21 CHL players continue on Canada’s road to World Juniors
OAKVILLE, Ont. – 24 players including 21 current Canadian Hockey League stars and two graduates continue on their journey to wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
The roster – which includes three goaltenders, seven defencemen and 14 forwards – was chosen following the four-day Sport Chek Selection Camp in Oakville, Ont., that included a pair of exhibition games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars.
Among the athletes travelling to the Czech Republic are five returnees from the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. (Barrett Hayton, Alexis Lafrenière, Jared McIsaac, Ty Smith, Joe Veleno) and two players who won a silver medal with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale).
“As with every year, there are difficult decisions to trim down our roster, but ultimately we believe this group will give us our best shot at a gold medal,” said Shawn Bullock, director of men’s national teams with Hockey Canada. “We are excited about working with these players in the Czech Republic, and we are looking forward to an exciting World Juniors.”
Canada’s final 22-player roster does not need to be officially submitted to the International Ice Hockey Federation until Dec. 25.
The puck will officially drop on Boxing Day when Canada takes on the United States at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, followed by games against Russia, Germany and the Czech Republic to round out preliminary action.
CHL talents with Team Canada:
Forwards:
Quinton Byfield, Sudbury Wolves
Dylan Cozens, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Ty Dellandrea, Flint Firebirds
Aidan Dudas, Owen Sound Attack
Nolan Foote, Kelowna Rockets
Liam Foudy, London Knights
Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Halifax Mooseheads
Barrett Hayton, Soo Greyhounds (Arizona Coyotes)
Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski Oceanic
Raphael Lavoie, Halifax Mooseheads
Connor McMichael, London Knights
Dawson Mercer, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Akil Thomas, Niagara IceDogs
Joe Veleno, Drummondville Voltigeurs (Grand Rapids Griffins)
Defence:
Calen Addison, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s
Bowen Byram, Vancouver Giants
Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters
Jared McIsaac, Halifax Mooseheads
Ty Smith, Spokane Chiefs
Goaltenders:
Nico Daws, Guelph Storm
Joel Hofer, Portland Winterhawks
Olivier Rodrigue, Moncton Wildcats
For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and #WorldJuniors.