WJC Notebook: Team Breaks Canada’s Deep, Dangerous 2021 List

Twenty-five players will represent Canada at the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships in Edmonton from December 25.

The final cuts were made on Friday morning when defensemen Donovan Sebrango, Lucas Carmire, and Ryan O’Rourke were sent home. Up front, Graeme Clark, Jamison Reese, Adam Beckman, Maverick Bork, Gage Goncalves, and Samuel Pauline were also left out.

The team is very deep with four Connor McMichael, Quinton Bifield, Dylan Cogens and Dawson Mercer returning from last year. Bowen Byram and Jamie Driesdale are the two returning defenders.

A very versatile group, many natural centers will have to take up residence in the wing, but that adaptation process has already begun.

The team spends the next two and a half days working on team bonding and line combinations, systems play and special-teams work. On Sunday, Team Canada will inspect the hotel in Edmonton Bubble.

For the second year in a row, while the youngest on the Bifield team, the big politician, McMichael, turns 20 on January 15th.

Roster breakdown

NHL: (1) Kirby Dutch
NCAA: (3) Dylan Holloway, Devon Levy, Alex Newhook
QMJHL: (4) Justin Barron, Jacob Pelletier, Jordan Spence, Dawson Mercer
OHL: (8) Quinton Byfield, Philip Tomasino, Ryan Suzuki, Connor McMichael, Jamie Driesndale, Thomas Harley, Cole Perfetti, Jack Quinn
WHL: (9) Dylan Garand, Taylor Gautier, Bowen Byram, Kaidan Korzak, Connor Jari, Dylan Cogens, Braden Schneider, Kaiden Guhley, Peyton Krebs

By numbers

The list includes 20 first round picks (14 forwards, 6 defenders)

Eleven players win gold at the controversial end of the 2018 Hilinka-Gretzky Cup in Edmonton

The R roster includes five right-shot defenders (Driesdale, Baron, Schneider, Spence, Corzak)

A total of seven players from last year’s team will play this year (Jari, Holloway, Perfetti, Newhook, Krebs, Harley and Schneider)

Jack Quinn and Devon Levy, two players who made up the uninvited team for the Summer Virtual Summer Camp

Year Jacob Pelletier was injured last year and was unable to participate

Notes

According to Head Coach Andrei Tourigni, the evaluation process is two-sided, involving a nine-day camp on-ice, and all of last season’s player history and previous experiences in the Program of Excellence.

Tourney wants a team that plays fast with tons of skill. High rate puck seizure, rapid transition and defensive men are expected in the rush.

25 A total of 25 players are eligible to play and are subject to change on a per-game basis. Teams are allowed to wear up to 22 players per game and the quota is 13 skaters, seven defenders and two marbles.

Team The team enters the Edmonton Bubble on Sunday and begins self-loneliness for five days before returning to the snow.

Cole Perfetti is the leading point-getter since last season (111 points), and Jack Quinn is the leading goal scorer (52).

Keep an eye on Devon Levy, who was picked by De Florida Panthers as the 212nd pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 2019 World Junior A Challenge MVP will shine where and when he played.

Camp Based on what we’ve seen in camp so far, Bowen Byram and Jamie Driesndale are considered the top pair, while another pair include Kayden Guhle and Justin Baron. Forwards, the top line looks to be stacked with Connor McMichael, Dylan Cogens and Kirby Dutch. The other three are Dylan Holloway, Alex Newhook and Jacob Pelletier.

Shane Wright is already back on the ice in Ontario హ్ Ohl beware!