Team Canada took the first steps to naming their team for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto by naming 32 players to their selection camp. The camp takes place from December 10-14 in Blaineville Quebec.
The camp roster consists of 19 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goalies. When it comes to CHL participation, the WHL has the most players announced to the roster. The OHL and QMJHL both have nine players on the roster, while the NCAA is represented by two players. Five players named to the camp are returnees from the 2016 World Juniors in Helsinki, Finland. The Tampa Bay Lightning are the most represented NHL team with six players on the roster.
Canada certainly won’t ice as good a roster as it could with a lot of eligible players currently playing with their NHL teams. Names like Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Travis Konecny and Jakob Chychryn are not going to be made available. While there are a few players that could be loaned, Canada isn’t holding their breath. As it is, they really don’t need to as whatever team comes out of this camp will still be pretty good. Good enough to capture gold? That’s what we’ll have to wait to find out.
Here’s the 32-man roster.
Goalies
Carter Hart – Everett Silvertips (WHL)
NHL Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Connor Ingram – Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
NHL Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Michael McNiven – Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
NHL Team: Montreal Canadiens
Defense
Jake Bean – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
NHL Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Guillaume Brisebois – Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Vancouver Canucks
Thomas Chabot – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Ottawa Senators
Dante Fabbro – Boston College (NCAA)
NHL Team: Nashville Predators
Kale Clague – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
NHL Team: Los Angeles Kings
Samuel Girard – Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Nashville Predators
Noah Juulsen – Everett Silvertips (WHL)
NHL Team: Montreal Canadiens
Jeremy Lauzon – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Boston Bruins
Victor Mete – London Knights (OHL)
NHL Team: Montreal Candiens
Philippe Myers – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards
Matthew Barzal – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
NHL Team: New York Islanders
Anthony Cirelli – Oshawa Generals (OHL)
NHL Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Dillon Dube – Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
NHL Team: Calgary Flames
Pierre-Luc Dubois – Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Julien Gauthier – Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Brett Howden – Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
NHL Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Mathieu Joseph – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Tyson Jost – University of North Dakota (NCAA)
NHL Team: Colorado Avalanche
Michael McLeod – Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
NHL Team: New Jersey Devils
Nick Merkley – Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
NHL Team: Arizona Coyotes
Nolan Patrick – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
NHL Status: 2017 Draft-eligible
Taylor Raddysh – Erie Otters (OHL)
NHL Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Nicolas Roy – Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
NHL Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Zach Sensyshyn – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
NHL Team: Boston Bruins
Blake Speers – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
NHL Team: New Jersey Devils
Sam Steel – Regina Pats (WHL)
NHL Team: Anaheim Ducks
Mitchell Stephens – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
NHL Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Dylan Strome – Erie Otters (OHL)
NHL Status: Arizona Coyotes
Austin Wagner – Regina Pats (WHL)
NHL Team: Los Angeles Kings