Canadian World Junior Roster & Analysis

Let the debate begin.

39 players were announced today to be apart of Team Canada’s camp roster for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship.

Of the 39 players named, 34 were from the CHL; 11 from the OHL, six from the QMJHL, and 18 from the WHL.

Riley Sheehan (NCAA), Reilly Smith (CCHA), Jaden Schwartz (WCHA), and Brandon Pirri (AHL) rounded out the roster

Many notables from the CHL were left off of the preliminary roster, most notably two of the top five scorers in the OHL, Greg McKegg and Tyler Toffoli, and the second leading scorer in the WHL, Brendan Ranford.

Will these decisions hurt Team Canada?

Possibly.  But for now, everything is up for debate, but the breakdown of it all is that no decision can be criticized until the puck is dropped and we see how the final team performs.

As mentioned many other places, this team is no filled with superstars like teams of the past.  And now will even be most likely without defenseman Brandon Gormley after he suffered a knee injury on the weekend.  Whoever his replacement is on the camp roster will surely have an even longer shot to make the team since he wasn’t even in the original top-12.

The strong bet for the two goalie positions will be Calvin Pickard from the Seattle Thunderbirds, and Olivier Roy from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

On defense, three returnees – barring injury – already have roster spots, leaving four positions (three starting jobs) up for grabs.  Two likely players to make the team include Tyson Barrie from the Kelowna Rockets, and Erik Gudbranson from the Kingston Frontenacs.

The forward positions are where the battles are really going to take place.

With no returning players up front – unless the LA Kings release Brayden Schenn – there will be no guarantees for any of the 13 available positions.

It’s going to be scoring by committee for this squad this year, as they won’t be able to rely on one stand out player to get them over the hump like in previous years.

As Hockey Canada head scout Kevin Prendergast said after the press conference, “There are no superstars. We’re going to be a blue-collar team.”

Garrett Wilson (41 points) and Zack Kassian (39 points) are both in the top-ten in scoring in the OHL and will be looked upon to carry some of the weight offensively if selected.

Five players from the WHL; Linden Vey (47 points), Brendan Gallagher (38 points), Curtis Hamilton (36 points), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (36 points), and Ryan Howse (34 points), are all currently in the top-ten in scoring in their respective league.

Finally, the player who some in the media peg to go number one overall at this year’s NHL entry draft, Sean Couturier, is fifth in QMJHL scoring with 42 points.

So, it may be difficult to find offence at certain points, but not impossible.  And, if the back end is as strong on the ice as it looks on paper, they might not need to score many goals to be victorious.

All of the fun begins on December 12th, with the final day of camp on the 15th.  Not much time to make an impression, even though the coaches already have an idea of who they would like on the team.

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The whole camp roster is as follows;

Goaltenders

JP Anderson Mississauga (OHL)
Calvin Pickard Seattle (WHL)
Olivier Roy Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
Mark Visentin Niagara (OHL)

Defencemen

Tyson Barrie Kelowna (WHL)
Jared Cowen Spokane (WHL)
Simon Despres Saint John (QMJHL)
Calvin de Haan* Oshawa (OHL)
Ryan Ellis* Windsor (OHL)
Brandon Gormley Moncton (QMJHL)
Erik Gudbranson Kingston (OHL)
Brayden McNabb Kootenay (WHL)
Ryan Murphy Kitchener (OHL)
Ryan Murray Everett (WHL)
Dylan Olsen Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
Mark Pysyk Edmonton (WHL)

Forwards

Carter Ashton Regina (WHL)
Michael Bournival Shawinigan (QMJHL)
Casey Cizikas Mississauga (OHL)
Brett Connolly Prince George (WHL)
Sean Couturier Drummondville (QMJHL)
Cody Eakin Swift Current (WHL)
Marcus Foligno Sudbury (OHL)
Brendan Gallagher Vancouver (WHL)
Curtis Hamilton Saskatoon (WHL)
Joey Hishon Owen Sound (OHL)
Quinton Howden Moose Jaw (WHL)
Ryan Howse Chilliwack (WHL)
Ryan Johansen Portland (WHL)
Zack Kassian Windsor (OHL)
Louis Leblanc Montreal (QMJHL)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Red Deer (WHL)
Brandon Pirri Rockford (AHL)
Brad Ross Portland (WHL)
Jaden Schwartz Colorado (WCHA)
Riley Sheahan Notre Dame (NCAA)
Reilly Smith Miami University (CCHA)
Linden Vey Medicine Hat (WHL)
Garrett Wilson Owen Sound (OHL)

*Denotes returning players