Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to announce that 12 OHL players have been named to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp set to take place December 9-12 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ont.
Two OHL goaltenders, three defencemen and seven forwards are part of the 31-man camp roster consisting of other players from across the Canadian Hockey League vying for a chance to represent Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic from December 26 to January 5.
The roster was selected by Hockey Canada head scout Brad McEwen (Whitewood, Sask.), Shawn Bullock (Wainwright, Alta.), director of men’s national teams for Hockey Canada, and Mark Hunter (Petrolia, Ont./London Knights), the U20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group. Head coach Dale Hunter (Petrolia, Ont./London Knights) and assistant coaches Mitch Love (Quesnel, B.C./Saskatoon Blades), André Tourigny (Nicolet, Que./Ottawa 67’s) and Alan Letang (Renfrew, Ont./Owen Sound Attack) also provided input, along with coaches and general managers across the Canadian Hockey League.
“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,” said McEwen. “We are expecting a highly competitive camp from these 31 players, and we know there will be many difficult decisions when it comes time to select the players who will wear the Maple Leaf in the Czech Republic.”
Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp will be held in Oakville, Ont., 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. TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, will air all 31 games at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, providing wall-to-wall game coverage and analysis throughout the tournament.
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.
12 OHL PLAYERS NAMED TO CANADA’S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM SELECTION CAMP:
Goaltenders:
Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)*
Defencemen:
Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)*
Jamie Drysdale (Erie Otters)
Thomas Harley (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Forwards:
Quinton Byfield (Sudbury Wolves)
Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
Aidan Dudas (Owen Sound Attack)*
Liam Foudy (London Knights)*
Connor McMichael (London Knights)*
Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit)
Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)*
*Hockey Canada National Junior Team Summer Development Camp invitee
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.
CHL Players Invited to Selection Camp:
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)
OHL Writers 