The 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship is right around the corner.
And Hockey Canada is gearing up for it as they announced the 34 players who will participate in their selection camp in Victoria, B.C. from Dec.10-14.
Highlighting the roster are four players with NHL experience: Alex Formenton (Senators), Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Kings), Evan Bouchard (Oilers) and Maxime Comtois (Ducks). Gabe Vilardi spent time with the Kings but has yet to make his NHL debut and is now in the AHL with Ontario. Formenton and Comtois are the only two returning players from last year's gold medal-winning squad.
Among the invited players, nine were drafted in the first round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and seven in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Michael DiPietro, Cody Glass and Nick Suzuki attended last year's selection camp but were cut before the tournament.
"It's a deep group, a skilled group, a high hockey IQ group, a fast group and a group that can play and think the game fast as well," head coach Tim Hunter told TSN following the announcement. "You can never have too much skill."
One skill the team will have this year is a goalie who can score as Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ian Scott netted a goal in November for Prince Albert (WHL). Scott has a .943 save percentage and 1.61 goals-against average in 23 games this season.
Yes. That's a goal...by a goalie...#Leafs prospect Ian Scottpic.twitter.com/FOjdNLK2oN (@TheWHL)
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) November 17, 2018
However, all eyes will surely be on Rimouski Oceanic star Alexis Lafrenière, who is expected to be the first overall pick in 2020. In 28 games this season the Quebec native has 16 goals and 30 assists and if selected, he would be the first 17-year-old to make the roster since Connor McDavid.
The selection camp will include three games against U SPORTS all-stars Dec. 12-14 and then roster will then be pared down to 23 for the tournament.
Canada hits the ice for their first game of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 26 against Denmark.
| Name | Pos. | Born | Hometown | Current Team | NHL Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael DiPietro | G | 6/9/99 | Amherstburg, Ont. | Windsor (OHL) | VAN |
| Ian Scott | G | 1/11/99 | Calgary, AB | Prince Albert (WHL) | TOR |
| Matthew Villalta | G | 6/3/99 | Godfrey, Ont. | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | LAK |
| Calen Addison | D | 04/11/00 | Brandon, Man. | Lethbridge (WHL) | PIT |
| Nicolas Beaudin | D | 10/7/99 | Châteauguay, Que. | Drummondville (QMJHL) | CHI |
| Jacob Bernard-Docker | D | 6/20/00 | Canmore, Alta. | University of North Dakota (NCHC) | OTT |
| Evan Bouchard | D | 10/20/99 | Oakville, Ont. | London (OHL) | EDM |
| Josh Brook | D | 6/17/99 | Roblin, Man. | Moose Jaw (WHL) | MTL |
| Cameron Crotty | D | 5/5/99 | Greely, Ont. | Boston University (HE) | ARI |
| Noah Dobson | D | 1/7/00 | Summerside, P.E.I. | Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) | NYI |
| Pierre-Olivier Joseph | D | 7/1/99 | Chambly, Que. | Charlottetown (QMJHL) | ARI |
| Jared McIsaac | D | 3/27/00 | Truro, N.S. | Halifax (QMJHL) | DET |
| Ian Mitchell | D | 1/18/99 | Calahoo, Alta. | University of Denver (NCHC) | CHI |
| Markus Phillips | D | 3/21/99 | Toronto, Ont. | Owen Sound (OHL) | LAK |
| Ty Smith | D | 3/24/00 | Lloydminster, Alta. | Spokane (WHL) | NJD |
| Jaret Anderson-Dolan | F | 9/12/99 | Calgary, Alta. | Spokane (WHL) | LAK |
| Shane Bowers | F | 7/30/99 | Herring Cove, N.S. | Boston University (HE) | OTT |
| Maxime Comtois | F | 1/8/99 | Longueuil, Que. | Drummondville (QMJHL) | ANA |
| Ty Dellandrea | F | 7/21/00 | Port Perry, Ont. | Flint (OHL) | DAL |
| MacKenzie Entwistle | F | 7/14/99 | Georgetown, Ont. | Hamilton (OHL) | ARI |
| Alex Formenton | F | 9/13/99 | Barrie, Ont. | London (OHL) | OTT |
| Liam Foudy | F | 2/4/00 | Toronto, Ont. | London (OHL) | CBJ |
| Morgan Frost | F | 5/14/99 | Aurora, Ont. | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | PHI |
| Cody Glass | F | 4/1/99 | Winnipeg, Man. | Portland (WHL) | VGK |
| Barrett Hayton | F | 6/9/00 | Peterborough, Ont. | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | ARI |
| Alexis Lafrenière | F | 10/11/01 | Saint-Eustache, Que. | Rimouski (QMJHL) | 2020 Draft |
| Raphaël Lavoie | F | 9/25/00 | Chambly, Que. | Halifax (QMJHL) | 2019 Draft |
| Brett Leason | F | 4/30/99 | Calgary, AB | Prince Albert (WHL) | 2019 Draft |
| Isaac Ratcliffe | F | 2/15/99 | London, Ont. | Guelph (OHL) | PHI |
| Jack Studnicka | F | 2/18/99 | Tecumseh, Ont. | Oshawa (OHL) | BOS |
| Nick Suzuki | F | 8/10/99 | London, Ont. | Owen Sound (OHL) | MON |
| Owen Tippett | F | 2/16/99 | Peterborough, Ont. | Mississauga (OHL) | FLA |
| Joe Veleno | F | 1/13/00 | Montreal, Que. | Drummondville (QMJHL) | DET |
| Gabe Vilardi | F | 8/16/99 | Kingston, Ont. | Ontario Reign (AHL) | LAK |