Virtanen added to Canada’s National Junior Team

Sunday December 13, 2015

TORONTO, Ont. – Hockey Canada has confirmed that Jake Virtanen will be joining Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2015 to Jan. 5, 2016 in Helsinki, Finland.
 
Virtanen (New Westminster, B.C.), who was part of the team that won gold on home ice, is on loan from the Vancouver Canucks and played in Toronto Sunday afternoon for the Utica Comets as part of a conditioning stint with the team. He is one of four returning players from the 2015 championship team, which also included Lawson Crouse (Mt. Brydges, Ont./Kingston, OHL), Joe Hicketts (Kamloops, B.C./Victoria, WHL), and Brayden Point (Calgary/Moose Jaw, WHL).
 
“Adding Jake to our roster brings another layer of leadership and experience that will benefit the team and our younger players who are going to look to Jake, Lawson, Joe, and Brayden as we move along through the championship,” said Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations and national teams, Hockey Canada. “We want to thank the Vancouver Canucks’ organization for working with us through this process.”

Canada’s National Junior Team roster was narrowed down to 27 on Sunday as four players were re-assigned to their respective junior teams.
 
CHL players remaining on the roster to make the trip to Finland include:

Goaltenders (3):
Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts)
Mason McDonald (Charlottetown Islanders)
Samuel Montembeault (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)

Defencemen (8):
Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Travis Dermott (Erie Otters)
Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels)
Joe Hicketts (Victoria Royals)
Noah Juulsen (Everett Silvertips)
Jérémy Lauzon (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Roland McKeown (Kingston Frontenacs)
Travis Sanheim (Calgary Hitmen)

Forwards (15):
Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Rourke Chartier (Kelowna Rockets)
Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs)
Julien Gauthier (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Jayce Hawryluk (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s)
Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nick Merkley (Kelowna Rockets)
Brendan Perlini (Niagara IceDogs)
Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors)
John Quenneville (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit)
Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Jake Virtanen (Vancouver Canucks, NHL/Calgary Hitmen)
 
Following the second pre-competition game on Dec. 20 in Finland, Hockey Canada will finalize its National Junior Team roster for this year’s tournament.
 
Canada opens the tournament against the United States on Saturday, Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters, TSN and RDS, are scheduled to broadcast all tournament games, including three pre-tournament games Dec. 19, 20, and 23; check local listings for details.
 
For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca.