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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Canada's World Junior Selection Camp roster was unveiled today. Here I present the players selected, with some stats for good measure:
Player |
Pos/S |
Ht |
Wt |
Year |
Hometown |
Team |
Drafted |
Pts/G |
Goals/G |
Michael Bournival |
C/L |
5'11" |
191 |
1992 |
Shawinigan-Sud, QC |
Shawinigan (QMJHL) |
2010 (71) |
1.50 |
1.00 |
Brett Bulmer |
RW/L |
6'3" |
193 |
1992 |
Prince George, BC |
Kelowna (WHL) |
2010 (39) |
1.50 |
0.60 |
Phillip Danault |
C/L |
5'11.5" |
189 |
1993 |
Victoriaville, QC |
Victoriaville (QMJHL) |
2011 (26) |
1.12 |
0.20 |
Phillip Di Guiseppe |
F/L |
6'1" |
200 |
1993 |
Maple, ON |
Michigan (CCHA) |
Und. |
0.75 |
0.44 |
Michael Ferland |
LW/L |
6'0.5" |
210 |
1993 |
Swan River, MB |
Brandon (WHL) |
2010 (133) |
1.50 |
0.61 |
Brendan Gallagher |
RW/R |
5'8" |
178 |
1992 |
Tsawwassen, BC |
Vancouver (WHL) |
2010 (147) |
1.61 |
0.83 |
Freddie Hamilton |
C/R |
6'0.5" |
191 |
1992 |
St. Catherine's, ON |
Niagara (OHL) |
2010 (129) |
1.43 |
0.57 |
Quinton Howden* |
C/L |
6'1.5" |
187 |
1992 |
Oak Bank, MB |
Moose Jaw (WHL) |
2010 (25) |
1.57 |
0.64 |
Jonathan Huberdeau |
LW/L |
6'1" |
176 |
1993 |
Prevost, QC |
Saint John (QMJHL) |
2011 (3) |
2.15 |
0.77 |
Boone Jenner |
C/L |
6'1" |
205 |
1993 |
Dorchester, ON |
Oshawa (OHL) |
2011 (37) |
1.23 |
0.50 |
Mark McNiell |
C/R |
6'1.5" |
211 |
1993 |
Edmonton, AB |
Prince Albert (WHL) |
2011 (18) |
0.81 |
0.33 |
Tanner Pearson |
LW/L |
6'0" |
198 |
1992 |
Kitchener, ON |
Barrie (OHL) |
Und. |
2.24 |
0.76 |
Zack Phillips |
C/R |
6'1" |
178 |
1992 |
Fredericton, NB |
Saint John (QMJHL) |
2011 (28) |
1.77 |
0.62 |
Ty Rattie |
LW/R |
5'11" |
169 |
1993 |
Airdrie, AB |
Portland (WHL) |
2011 (32) |
1.85 |
1.00 |
Max Reinhart |
C/L |
6'0.5" |
180 |
1992 |
West Vancouver, BC |
Kootenay (WHL) |
2010 (64) |
1.35 |
0.52 |
Brad Ross |
LW/L |
5'11" |
174 |
1992 |
Lethbridge, AB |
Portland (WHL) |
2010 (43) |
1.21 |
0.57 |
Mark Schiefele |
C/R |
6'1.5" |
192 |
1993 |
Kitchener, ON |
Barrie (OHL) |
2011 (7) |
1.82 |
0.55 |
Jaden Schwartz* |
LW/L |
5'9.5" |
190 |
1992 |
Wilcox, SK |
Colorado College (WCHA) |
2010 (14) |
1.55 |
0.45 |
Ryan Spooner |
LW/L |
5'10" |
181 |
1992 |
Kanata, ON |
Kingston (OHL) |
2010 (45) |
1.05 |
0.45 |
Mark Stone |
RW/R |
6'2.5" |
206 |
1992 |
Winnipeg, MB |
Brandon (WHL) |
2010 (178) |
2.07 |
0.86 |
Ryan Strome |
C/R |
6'0" |
183 |
1993 |
Mississauga, ON |
Niagara (OHL) |
2011 (5) |
1.38 |
0.81 |
Christian Thomas |
RW/R |
5'8.5" |
170 |
1992 |
Toronto, ON |
Oshawa (OHL) |
2010 (40) |
0.81 |
0.44 |
Tyler Toffoli |
RW/R |
5'11.5" |
188 |
1992 |
Scarborough, ON |
Ottawa (OHL) |
2010 (47) |
1.95 |
1.09 |
That is 9 forwards from the WHL (where Head Coach Don Hay comes from), 8 from the OHL, 4 from the QMJHL and 2 from the NCAA. Only three forwards are producing at less than a point per game, and while I don't like the chances for Christian Thomas or Phillip Di Guiseppe, Mark McNiell is going to get a long look as a centre with size. Only two forwards return from last year's silver medallists, and either of Jaden Schwartz and Quinton Howden would make a good Captain Canada.
The highest scoring forward left off the list was 5'8" winger Jean-Gabriel Pageau of Gatineau (QMJHL). His 1.82 points per game is higher than both of the other 5''8" wingers at gamp, Brendan Gallagher and Christian Thomas. So size alone doesn't explain his absence, and those that say there is a bias against QMJHL or Quebecois talent can feel free to use that information, just cite me, please!
Join me after the jump for the defence and goaltending:
Player |
Sh. |
Ht |
Wt |
Year |
Hometown |
Team |
Drafted |
Pts/G |
Goals/G |
Nathan Beaulieu |
L |
6'1.5" |
189 |
1992 |
Strathroy, ON |
Saint John (QMJHL) |
2011 (17) |
0.88 |
0.27 |
Cody Ceci |
R |
6'1.5" |
210 |
1993 |
Ottawa, ON |
Ottawa (OHL) |
Und. |
1.04 |
0.21 |
Mathew Dumba |
R |
6'0" |
172 |
1994 |
Calgary, AB |
Red Deer (WHL) |
Und. |
0.82 |
0.32 |
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc |
R |
6'0.5" |
186 |
1992 |
Quebec, QC |
Rimouski (QMJHL) |
2010 (68) |
1.42 |
0.50 |
Brandon Gormley |
L |
6'1.5" |
196 |
1992 |
Murray River, PEI |
Moncton (QMJHL) |
2010 (13) |
1.18 |
0.45 |
Dougie Hamilton |
R |
6'4" |
192 |
1993 |
St. Catherines, ON |
Niagara (OHL) |
2011 (9) |
1.50 |
0.45 |
Scott Harrington |
L |
6'2.5" |
200 |
1993 |
Kingston, ON |
London (OHL) |
2011 (54) |
0.63 |
0.05 |
Brenden Kichton |
R |
5'11" |
185 |
1992 |
Spruce Grove, AB |
Spokane (WHL) |
2011 (127) |
0.95 |
0.14 |
Joe Morrow |
L |
6'0" |
198 |
1992 |
Sherwood Park, AB |
Portland (WHL) |
2011 (23) |
1.05 |
0.36 |
Ryan Murphy |
R |
5'10.5" |
176 |
1993 |
Aurora, ON |
Kitchener (OHL) |
2011 (12) |
0.67 |
0.00 |
Ryan Murray |
L |
6'0" |
201 |
1993 |
White City, SK |
Everett (WHL) |
Und. |
0.60 |
0.30 |
Jamie Oleksiak |
L |
6'6.5" |
244 |
1992 |
Toronto, ON |
Saginaw (OHL) |
2011 (14) |
0.29 |
0.17 |
Alex Petrovic |
R |
6'3.5" |
202 |
1992 |
Edmonton, AB |
Red Deer (WHL) |
2010 (36) |
0.92 |
0.08 |
Mark Pysyk |
R |
6'1.5" |
187 |
1992 |
Sherwood Park, AB |
Edmonton (WHL) |
2010 (23) |
0.60 |
0.05 |
If Jamie Oleksiak makes the team, Canada will be continuing its tradition of putting together a huge shutdown pairing. Oleksiak is the only player without much of an offensive arsenal, so finding pointmen for the power play shouldn't be too tough. There are no returning D, and with emphasis on winning on home ice, expect a bias towards the older players, as well as ones that have represented Canada in the past. It will also be interesting to see how they divide between left and right hand shots.
Significant absentees on the blueline include Duncan Siemens and Dylan McIlrath, both players who aren't as polished offensively as the group invited. Canada might be emphasizing puck movement with this group.
Player |
Cat. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Year |
Hometown |
Team |
Drafted |
GP |
SV% |
Tyler Bunz |
L |
6'1" |
206 |
1992 |
St. Albert, AB |
Medicine Hat (WHL) |
2010 (121) |
20 |
.922 |
Louis Domingue |
R |
6'2.5" |
204 |
1992 |
Mont St-Hilaire, QC |
Quebec (QMJHL) |
2010 (138) |
16 |
.934 |
Mark Visentin* |
L |
6'1.5" |
194 |
1992 |
Waterdown, ON |
Niagara (OHL) |
2010 (27) |
17 |
.894 |
Scott Wedgewood |
L |
6'0.5" |
194 |
1992 |
Brampton, ON |
Plymouth (OHL) |
2010 (84) |
18 |
.906 |
So the numbers don't look good for Visentin, although I am starting to doubt the defensive accumen of the OHL as a whole. I have 'seen Wedgewood good' a few times and was convinced he was the top OHL goalie, but the numbers of 2012 draft eligible Malcolm Subban stick out too much.... he should've been invited for a .935 SV% in the free-wheeling OHL. Meanwhile, the undrafted Ty Rimmer's .941 SV% for Tri-City of the WHL seems like it should be here as well. Visentin's technique better be in top form in camp, because his numbers don't justify his invitation back.
I'll have more analysis as well as my projected final roster later.
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