27 CHL players invited to Canada’s World Junior Selection Camp
A total of 27 Canadian Hockey League talents have been named to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp roster with the goal of representing their country at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic.
The group, which consists of 15 forwards, eight defencemen, and four goaltenders, is headlined by Rimouski Oceanic left-wing Alexis Lafreniere, the early favourite to be selected first overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. This season, the reigning CHL Player of the Year leads the entire circuit with 59 points counting 17 goals and 42 assists across 28 appearances.
Lafreniere is one of seven QMJHL invitees alongside eight from the WHL and 12 from the OHL. Lafreniere is also one of three 2019 returnees alongside defencemen Jared McIsaac (Halifax Mooseheads) and Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs).
The roster was selected by head scout Brad McEwen, Shawn Bullock, director of men’s national teams for Hockey Canada, and Mark Hunter (London Knights), the U20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group. Head coach Dale Hunter (London Knights) and assistant coaches Mitch Love (Saskatoon Blades), André Tourigny (Ottawa 67’s) and Alan Letang (Owen Sound Attack) also provided input, along with coaches and general managers across the CHL.
“After a long evaluation process through summer camp, the early weeks of the CHL season and the Canada-Russia Series, we are nearing the final steps in selecting the roster that will represent Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship,” Hockey Canada head scout Brad McEwen said in a statement.
Goaltenders:
Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
Joel Hofer (Portland Winterhawks)
Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)
Olivier Rodrigue (Moncton Wildcats)
Defencemen:
Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)
Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants)
Jamie Drysdale (Erie Otters)
Thomas Harley (Mississauga Steelheads)
Jared McIsaac (Halifax Mooseheads)
Braden Schneider (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs)
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)
Peyton Krebs (Winnipeg ICE)
Alexis Lafreniere (Rimouski Oceanic)
Raphael Lavoie (Halifax Mooseheads)
Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Dawson Mercer (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Jakob Pelletier (Moncton Wildcats)
Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit)
Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)
Click here to see the full roster.
Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp will be held Dec. 9-12 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex and will feature a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on Dec. 11-12. Tickets for selection camp are available at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, starting at $15 plus fees.
The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on the United States at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.
Canada has won 31 medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship since 1977, including 17 gold, nine silver and five bronze. Team Canada last took home gold in Buffalo in 2018.
For more information on Hockey Canada, Canada’s National Junior Team and the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and #WorldJuniors.