We are less than a month away from the 2023 World Juniors, and teams will soon begin the process of formulating their rosters to compete at the annual IIHF tournament.
Canada has its eyes on gold again after winning it all this summer. The team defeated Finland in the gold-medal game 3-2 thanks to Kent Johnson's overtime winner. A number of players from the 2022 team, including Connor Bedard, Olen Zellweger and Logan Stankoven, are expected to wear the maple leaf again for Canada at the 2023 tournament.
As always, there is a plethora of talent for the country to choose from. No matter who's on the team, Canada is expected to be one of the favorites to win a medal once the competition begins in Halifax and Moncton. The pre-tournament camp roster for Canada will reportedly be announced later this week on Thursday, Dec. 1, with camp opening on Friday, Dec. 9.
Canada will play in three exhibition games before the tournament. The team will face Switzerland and Slovakia, respectively, on Dec. 19 and 21 at Avenir Centre in Moncton, N.B. before a rematch of the gold-medal game on Dec. 23 against Finland.
MORE: When is the 2023 World Juniors?
As the organization begins the early stages of forming its group, The Sporting News takes a look at the potential roster for Canada at the 2023 World Juniors.
Team Canada 2023 World Juniors projected roster
Forwards
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Fantilli (2023 Draft) | Logan Stankoven (DAL) | Connor Bedard (2023 Draft) |
| Brennan Othmann (NYR) | Shane Wright (SEA) | Joshua Roy (MON) |
| Zachary Bolduc (STL) | Zach Dean (VGK) | Matthew Savoie (BUF) |
| Riley Kidney (MTL) | Nathan Gaucher (ANA) | Zach Ostapchuk (OTT) |
| Zachary L'Heureux (NSH) | Jordan Dumais (CBJ) |
The biggest omissions for Canada are three players getting consistent playing time in the NHL — Mason McTavish, Wyatt Johnston and Dylan Guenther. McTavish's participation at the 2022 World Juniors this summer was a surprise to some, but he wanted to win gold and did just that. It doesn't make much sense for the 2021 No. 3 overall pick to go back for his third World Juniors as he's getting consistent playing time with the Ducks.
Johnston and Guenther are both intriguing cases. Johnston has played in every game for the Stars, while Guenther has skated in 17 of the Coyotes' 20 contests. Their respective clubs could decide to keep them in the NHL, but if either is loaned to Canada, expect them to fit somewhere in the top six.
One forward that may be made available is Shane Wright. He hasn't found a role with the Kraken and is currently on a conditioning loan in the AHL. The timing works out that once his two-week stint is up, he could be loaned to Canada for the World Juniors.
If Wright is on Canada, he's a lock for a top-six role. Wright, Logan Stankoven, Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli should take up four of the top six spots. Stankoven and Wright should be the top centers, while Bedard shifts back to wing like he did this summer. All four are exceptional talents that should be the driving forces behind Canada's offense.
If Guenther and/or Johnston don't go to the tournament, expect Brennan Othmann, Joshua Roy and Matthew Savoie to compete for the opening wing spots on the top two lines. Both Othmann and Roy had turns playing on Canada's top line at the 2022 tournament with McTavish and Bedard.
Zach Dean and Zachary Bolduc would be solid middle-six options and there could be the option of them playing on the third line, along with whoever doesn't find a top-six role. Savoie could fit with them because of his offensive ability, but we could also see Roy sliding down if Savoie gels with one of the top offensive talents.
Riley Kidney, Nathan Gaucher and Zach Ostapchuk can all return to play fourth-line roles as they did at the 2022 tournament. The trio all play a more physical, defensive game, with Gaucher excelling in the faceoff dot.
Two Halifax teammates, Jordan Dumais and Zachary L'Heureux come in as the extras. Dumais is leading the QMJHL in scoring and L'Heureux has extensive history with Team Canada that could override the fact he's only just returned from injury.
Other forwards that could be in the running to make the roster out of camp are Owen Beck, Reid Schaefer, Conor Geekie and Ryan Winterton.
Defense
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
|---|---|
| Ethan Del Mastro (CHI) | Olen Zellweger (ANA) |
| Carson Lambos (MIN) | Brandt Clarke (LAK) |
| Kevin Korchinski (CHI) | Corson Ceulemans (CBJ) |
| Denton Mateychuk (CBJ) | |
| Nolan Allen (CHI) |
The defense is fairly clear. Olen Zellweger will once again be Canada's No. 1 defenseman after excelling in the role in August. Ethan Del Mastro is the only other returner from that team, and he makes sense to pair with Zellweger given his defensive-minded play.
If Brandt Clarke is made available, he's the clear No. 2 option on the right side. Similarly to Wright in Seattle, Clarke hasn't found his footing in Los Angeles. He just finished his two-week conditioning assignment and loaning him to Canada would buy the Kings more time to decide if he stays in the NHL for the rest of the year, or goes back to the OHL. There is also bad history between Clarke and Team Canada after the program shockingly elected to leave him off the 2021 roster.
Carson Lambos was a last-minute removal for Canada this summer due to an injury, so he should be back and take a spot on the left side. That third spot on the left side is what is the most intriguing. Kevin Korchinski, Denton Mateychuk and Noah Allen are all options, and all three bring something different to the table. Korchinski is by far the most talented offensively, Mateychuk is arguably the most well-rounded and Allen is a force in his own zone.
Goalies
| Benjamin Gaudreau (SJS) |
| Tyler Brennan (NJD) |
| Thomas Milic (Undrafted) |
Goaltending will be the weak point for Canada, as the team is forced to completely overhaul the position as Dylan Garand, Sebastian Cossa and Brett Brochu have all aged out.
There is no clear No. 1, but Canada should go with Benjamin Gaudreau. He played over Tyler Brennan at the 2021 U18s and led the team to gold, but neither of the two has put up impressive numbers in their junior seasons so far. Thomas Milic, who went undrafted in 2021 and 2022, could compete for the backup role.
