Maddox Schultz is on some kind of heater.
The top prospect for the 2028 NHL Draft had a hat trick Thursday to lead Team Canada White to an 8-6 win over Finland in a quarterfinal at the U17 World Challenge in Oakville, Ont.
Schultz, 16, now has five goals and eight assists in just three games as the captain for one of two Canadian teams at the six-team international event.
Maddan Daneault, the lone 2011-born player on either of Canada's teams, had three assists for Canada White. The Kelowna Rockets first-year player has two goals and five assists at the tournament.
Schultz and his Regina Pats teammate, fellow 16-year-old Liam Pue, are considered two of the top candidates for the 2028 NHL Draft. Daneault isn't eligible until 2029
Earlier in the day, Pue had a goal and an assist for Team Canada Red in a 6-1 quarterfinal victory over Sweden.
Schultz, who grew up in Regina, is doing everything in his power at this event to prove he belongs on Canada's world junior team as a rare 16-year-old next month in Alberta.
Last summer, Schultz was the top scorer in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, helping Canada win gold at the under-18 event.
Schultz and Pue both got to play 34 games as underagers last season with the Pats as part of the new Western Canadian Development Model.
Schultz was picked first overall by the Pats in the 2025 WHL Draft, while Pue went third to Regina.
The WHL holds its draft for 15-year-old players, while the OHL and QMJHL pick 16-year-old players. Most WHL draft picks have to wait a year before they can play in the league.
Canada Red faces Czechia and Canada White faces Team USA in the semifinals at the U17 World Challenge on Friday.
The medal games are Saturday.
