Team Canada unveils roster for 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship

Hockey Canada (Wikimedia Commons)

Hockey Canada announced its roster on Friday for the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton, Alberta. The tournament is still set to start on Christmas Day despite significant restrictions within Alberta at this time due to a spike of coronavirus cases.

The 25 players selected are Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Justin Barron of Halifax, Nova Scotia (1st round pick, 25th overall, Colorado Avalanche, 2020); Vancouver Giants defenceman Byram Bowen of Cranbrook, British Columbia (1st round pick, 4th overall, Colorado Avalanche, 2019); Sudbury Wolves center Quinton Byfield of Newmarket, Ontario (1st round pick, 2nd overall, Los Angeles Kings, 2020); Lethbridge Hurricanes center Dylan Cozens of Whitehorse, Yukon (1st round pick, 7th overall, Buffalo Sabres, 2019); Chicago Blackhawks center Kirby Dach of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta (1st round, 3rd overall, Chicago Blackhawks, 2019); Erie Otters defenceman Jamie Drysdale of Toronto, Ontario (1st round, 6th overall, Anaheim Ducks, 2020); Kamloops Blazers goaltender Dylan Garand of Victoria, British Columbia (4th round, 103rd overall, New York Rangers, 2020); Prince George Cougars goaltender Taylor Gauthier of Calgary, Alberta; Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Kaiden Guhle of Grande Prairie, Alberta (1st round, 16th overall, Montreal Canadiens, 2020); Dallas Stars defenceman Thomas Harley of Vaughan, Ontario (1st round, 18th overall, Dallas Stars, 2019); University of Wisconson Badgers center Dylan Holloway of Calgary, Alberta (1st round, 14th overall, Edmonton Oilers, 2020); Kelowna Rockets defenceman Kaeden Korczak of Yorkton, Saskatchewan (2nd round, 41st overall, Vegas Golden Knights, 2019); Winnipeg Ice center Peyton Krebs of Calgary, Alberta (1st round, 17th overall, Vegas Golden Knights, 2019); Carleton Place Canadians goaltender Devon Levi of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec (7th round, 212th overall, Florida Panthers, 2020); London Knights center Connor McMichael of Ajax, Ontario (1st round, 25th overall, Washington Capitals, 2019); Chicoutimi Sagueneens center Dawson Mercer of Bay Roberts, Newfoundland (1st round, 18th overall, New Jersey Devils, 2020); Boston College Eagles center Alex Newhook of St. John’s, Newfoundland (1st round, 16th overall, Colorado Avalanche, 2019); Val d’Or Foreurs left winger Jakob Pelletier of Quebec City, Quebec (1st round, 26th overall, Calgary Flames, 2019); Saginaw Spirit center Cole Perfetti of Whitby, Ontario (1st round, 10th overall, Winnipeg Jets, 2020); Ottawa 67’s right winger Jack Quinn of Cobden, Ontario (1st round, 8th overall, Buffalo Sabres, 2020); Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Braden Schneider of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (1st round, 19th overall, New York Rangers, 2020); Moncton Wildcats defenceman Jordan Spence of Cornwall, Prince Edward Island (4th round, 95th overall, Los Angeles Kings, 2019); Saginaw Spirit center Ryan Suzuki of London, Ontario (1st round, 28th overall, Carolina Hurricanes, 2019); Oshawa Generals right wing Philip Tomasino of Mississauga, Ontario (1st round, 24th overall, Nashville Predators, 2019); Kamloops Blazers center Connor Zary of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (1st round, 24th overall, Calgary Flames, 2020).

Of the 25 players on the roster, nine players were in the Western Hockey League, seven players were in the Ontario Hockey League, four in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, two in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, two in the National Hockey League, and one in the Central Canada Hockey League in 2019-20.

Gauthier meanwhile is the only player on the roster undrafted. One area of concern might be the lack of natural wingers. Most of the forwards are centers, with Pelletier the only natural left winger, and Quinn and Tomasino, the only natural right wingers.

Team Canada’s first game is against Germany on Boxing Day. Their other Pool A games are against Slovakia on December 27, Switzerland on December 29, and Finland on New Year’s Eve.

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