The World Junior Championships are just around the corner, as more national squads release their preliminary rosters.
Team Switzerland has officially announced their U20 preliminary roster, which features Vancouver Canucks’ most recent seventh-round pick, Basile Sansonnens.
The 18-year-old blueliner has been soaking up top-pairing minutes during his North American campaign with the Rimouski Océanic, currently the third-highest-ranked team in the QMJHL.
Through 23 games, Sansonnens has tallied three assists and boasts a respectable plus-six rating while serving as a prominent piece of Rimouski’s penalty-killing unit. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 182 pounds, Sansonnens is known for his heavy shutdown presence, complemented by a strong skating ability.
Hailing from Estavayer-le-Lac, Switzerland, Sansonnens spent his young career jumping the ranks in his home country. He is a familiar face in the Swiss national program, having represented his country at the U16, U17, and U18 levels. Most recently, he donned the Swiss colours at the World Junior Summer Showcase, where he auditioned for the team for this year’s winter tournament.
With the invite, he joins a list of three potential candidates to represent the Canucks at this year’s tournament in Ottawa. Tom Willander has already secured his spot on Sweden’s roster, while Sawyer Mynio will be battling for a place on Team Canada’s blue line.
The Swiss placed seventh in last year’s tournament after being eliminated by Team Sweden in overtime (3-2) in the Quarterfinals.
The 2025 World Junior Championships kick off on Boxing Day in Ottawa, where Switzerland will open against Czechia.
Here’s a look at their upcoming schedule for the Swiss:
Group Stage Matches:
- December 26: Switzerland vs. Czechia, 2:00 p.m. PST
- December 27: Slovakia vs. Switzerland, 10:00 a.m. PST
- December 29: Sweden vs. Switzerland, 9:00 a.m. PST
- December 31: Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan, 9:00 a.m. PST
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