22 past and present CHL players to represent Canada at 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship
BRNO, Czech Republic – Following six days of pre-tournament training in Vienna, Austria and Brno, Czech Republic, Hockey Canada has finalized Canada’s National Junior Team roster for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
The roster – which includes three goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards – will look to build on Hockey Canada’s historical success at the tournament.
Among the athletes on the final roster are five returnees from the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. (Hayton, Lafrenière, McIsaac, Smith, Veleno), two players who won a silver medal with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (Byfield, Drysdale) and five players yet to be selected in the NHL draft (Byfield, Daws, Drysdale, Lafrenière, Mercer).
“The management group and coaches have done a terrific job working with the players and finalizing the roster,” said Shawn Bullock, director of men’s national teams with Hockey Canada. “This team has a lot of skill, international experience and, most importantly, is a group of quality young men.”
CHL Past & Present Players on Team Canada:
Goaltenders:
Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
Joel Hofer (Portland Winterhawks)
Olivier Rodrigue (Moncton Wildcats)
Defencemen:
Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)
Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants)
Jamie Drysdale (Erie Otters)
Jared McIsaac (Halifax Mooseheads)
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)
Barrett Hayton (Soo Greyhounds / Arizona Coyotes)
Alexis Lafreniere ( Rimouski Oceanic)
Raphael Lavoie (Halifax Mooseheads)
Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Dawson Mercer (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)
Joe Veleno (Drummondville Voltigeurs / Grand Rapids Griffins)
The puck will officially drop on Boxing Day when Canada takes on the United States at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, followed by games against Russia, Germany and the Czech Republic to round out preliminary action.
For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow social media on Facebook, Twitter and#WorldJuniors.
OHL Writers 