Hockey Canada releases World Juniors selection camp roster with significant omissions

Hockey Canada released its World Junior Championship camp roster on Wednesday morning.

Fans were quick to notice the omission of Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke, who does not appear on the roster announcement. Chatter got louder on Tuesday night when it was rumoured that Clarke would not be invited. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler reported that the decision to leave him off the roster was not COVID-19 or illness-related.

What stuns fans is that Clarke leads the OHL in scoring by a defenseman with 23 points in 18 games. Clarke made Canada’s World Junior summer showcase roster earlier this summer and looked like a near-shoo-in to make the final roster with fellow defenders Kaiden Guhle and Owen Power.

There is also Matthew Savoie missing from the list, he who led the WHL in scoring.

A lot of reactions on Hockey Canada’s picks. What do you make of them?