TORONTO, Ont./MONTREAL, Que. - Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced Monday that 25 players have been invited to attend Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp, beginning Dec. 12 at the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence in Etobicoke, Ont.
The roster includes two goaltenders, eight defencemen and 15 forwards. Canada’s final roster for the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmö, Sweden, will include 22 players, and must be finalized by Dec. 25.
Nine of the players invited to the selection camp are from the Western Hockey League, including Edmonton Oil Kings’ defenceman Griffin Reinhart, who played for Canada’s national junior team 1t the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. Also included on the list of invitees is former Red Deer Rebels defenceman Mathew Dumba, who is currently playing in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild.
“Hockey Canada is looking forward to an extremely competitive camp in December, as we look to assemble a team that will make all Canadians proud,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior director of men’s national teams and hockey operations. “This is a first step towards naming our roster for the IIHF World Junior Championship. We look forward to the camp getting underway.”
"On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League, congratulations and best of luck to all of the players named to Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp," said CHL President David Branch. "The CHL is very proud of our partnership with Hockey Canada and we look forward to watching our players and coaches represent our league at the World Junior Championship in Sweden."
“On behalf of the Program of Excellence management group, I would like to thank Ryan Jankowski for all his work,” said Bruce Hamilton, a member of the Program of Excellence management group. “I would also like to make note of the great contributions of the other members of the management group, Sean Burke, Mark Hunter and Joel Bouchard, who have provided great insight and leadership throughout.”
“I would like to congratulate the 25 players that received an invitation today,” said Ryan Jankowski, head scout for Canada’s National Junior Team. “Canada is fortunate to have great depth of talent, and these players should be proud of this special opportunity. I would also like to thank the general managers and coaches of the Canadian Hockey League for their great support throughout this process.”
In regards to eligible players currently in the NHL, Hockey Canada will continue to communicate with NHL teams and is hopeful players may still be made available to Canada’s National Junior Team.
The 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship will be broadcast on TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters. Check local listings for broadcast times in your area.
For more information on Hockey Canada, the Program of Excellence and Canada’s National Junior Team, go to www.HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_men.
WHL PLAYERS NAMED TO CANADA NJT SELECTION CAMP ROSTER:
Defencemen:
**Mathew Dumba, Red Deer Rebels (Currently with Minnesota Wild)
Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders
Derrick Pouliot, Portland Winterhawks
Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton Oil Kings
Damon Severson, Kelowna Rockets
Forwards:
Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings
Taylor Leier, Portland Winterhawks
Nicolas Petan, Portland Winterhawks
Sam Reinhart, Kootenay Ice
Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers