Hockey Canada names World Junior selection camp roster

We're slowly approaching one of the best times of the year. In less than two months, the 2021 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships will kick-off from the bubble in Edmonton. But before that begins, Hockey Canada announced today their selection camp roster featuring 46 players, 42 of which play within the Canadian Hockey League. Team Canada's selection camp will begin on November 16th, around a month before it usually begins, and that's mostly to do with the fact the majority of these players haven't had game action since March.

The selection camp will feature practices, three intra-squad games, and six games between the U-Sports All-Stars between November 28th and December 13th before Canada enters the Edmonton bubble.

“Although this has been a difficult year for our athletes and staff, we are excited to unveil the 46 players who will compete for a spot on Canada's National Junior Team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. We know our athletes are excited for the opportunity to defend gold on home ice this year, and we expect a highly competitive selection camp with a number of difficult decisions to be made when it comes time to select the players who will wear the Maple Leaf in Edmonton in December.” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada.

Canada's selection camp rosters will feature six players who won gold at the 2020 World Juniors. Quinton Byfield, Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Jamie Drysdale, Connor McMichael, and Dawson Mercer will all return to try and help Canada win back-to-back gold medals for the first time in over ten years.

The 2021 World Juniors will open on Christmas day for the first time since the 2005 edition. Canada will open their gold medal defence on Boxing Day against Germany, the next day (December 27th) they will play against Slovakia, on December 29th they will face Switzerland, and on New Year's Eve, they will go up against Finland. All games will start at 6 pm ET/4 pm MT.

Prior to the tournament beginning, Canada will play two exhibition games against Sweden on December 21st, and Russia on December 23rd. Both games will be at 6 pm ET/4 pm MT.

“As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, Hockey Canada has taken important steps to maintain the health and safety of our National Junior Team athletes and staff, as well as the community at large, during selection camp and throughout the World Juniors. As much as we would enjoy allowing fans into the building to support Team Canada throughout the camp, we need to be responsible as we look to keep all parties safe before teams enter the bubble in Edmonton.” said Tom Renney, CEO of Hockey Canada.

46 #WorldJuniors hopefuls to participate in an unprecedented 28-day @SportChek selection camp in Red Deer starting November 16.

PRESS RELEASE: https://t.co/llazDJQ7bC
ROSTER: https://t.co/Lx3HcRG9QF

Follow @HC_WJC and visit https://t.co/aOOt5dO2K2 for more. pic.twitter.com/1IMBEjyFGb— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) October 29, 2020

Source: Hockey Canada (press release)

Source: Hockey Canada (roster)

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