Hockey Canada releases World Junior camp roster

Yesterday afternoon Hockey Canada officially unveiled their list of junior aged players who have been invited to this month’s 2020 World Junior Championships Selection Camp:

The players, including four goaltenders, 10 defencemen and 17 forwards, will compete for a chance to represent Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic, Dec. 26-Jan. 5.

“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 head scout Brad 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.”

There are 12 NHL first round picks on the camp roster, including Colorado Avalanche prospect Bowen Byram and Buffalo Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens. 

Notable players not included are forwards Barrett Hayton of the Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks rookie Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno from the Detroit Red Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids and New York Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson. According to NHL insider Bob McKenzie, Veleno has an "excellent chance" of being released by the Red Wings to join team Canada once the tournament officially gets underway. 

Read below for the full selection camp roster:

Goaltenders
Nico Daws
Joel Hofer
Hunter Jones
Olivier Rodriquez

Defence
Calen Addison
Kevin Bahl
Jacob Bernard-Docker
Bowen Byram
Peter Diliberatore
Jamie Drysdale
Thomas Harley
Jared McIsaac
Braden Schneider
Ty Smith

Forwards
Quinton Byfield
Dylan Cozens
Ty Dellandrea
Aidan Dudas
Nolan Foote
Liam Foudy
Benoit Olivier Groulx
Dylan Holloway
Alexis Lafrieniere
Raphael Lavoie
Connor McMichael
Dawson Mercer
Alex Newhook
Jakob Pelletier
Cole Perfetti
Akil Thomas

Among the 31 players are three returnees from the 2019 World Juniors – *Alexis Lafrenière (Saint-Eustache, Que./Rimouski, QMJHL)*, *Jared McIsaac (Truro, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL)* and *Ty Smith (Lloydminster, Alta./Spokane, WHL)*.