As the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship approaches, Hockey Canada announced the players invited to attend the National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp beginning Nov. 16.
“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,” Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior vice president of national teams, said in a news release. “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.”
Canada enters this year's tournament as the defending champion and will see six players returning from that squad, including 2020 NHL Draft No. 2 overall selection and Los Angeles Kings prospect Quinton Byfield. One notable omission is No. 1 overall pick and last year's MVP, Alexis Lafreniere.
The 2021 edition returns to Canadian soil as Edmonton, Alberta, will serve as the host. Red Deer, Alberta, was originally scheduled to split hosting duties; however, because of the ongoing pandemic, the tournament will now be held in an NHL-style bubble in Edmonton. While the country enters with a world-best 18 gold medals, it did not win any the last time the tournament was held in its confines in 2019 (Vancouver and Victoria, B.C.).
Here's everything to know about the selection camp and the upcoming 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Who was invited to Canada’s 2021 World Juniors selection camp?
A total of 46 players were initially invited to Team Canada's selection camp, which will be held from Nov. 16 to Dec. 13 in Red Deer, Alberta. The players, including five goaltenders, 14 defensemen and 27 forwards, will compete for a spot on head coach Andre Tourigny's team.
Last year, Flames prospect Jakob Pelletier was expected to play for Canada but was injured prior to camp. Seven players who were cut from that 2020 camp will get a chance to wear the Maple Leafs in Edmonton: Thomas Harley, Dylan Holloway, Peyton Krebs, Alex Newhook, Cole Perfetti, Braden Schneider and Connor Zary.
#Flames first-rounder Connor Zary on invite to Hockey Canada's world-junior camp: “I’m really honoured and excited to get the opportunity to go to camp, but that’s not all I want. I want to be on that team and I want to be a difference-maker. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
— Wes Gilbertson (@WesGilbertson) October 29, 2020
During a conference call with the media after the initial announcement, Hockey Canada announced the addition of forward Kirby Dach to the selection camp roster. If the NHL season begins on Jan. 1 — which is the tentative date for now — Dach will return to the Blackhawks for the start of the season. It should be noted that Chicago would not release Dach last year.
"I'm excited to have him on board," Tourigny said. "I think he can bring leadership. I think he had the chance to have a season with guys like Jonathan Toews and ... he's been in the bubble as well [with the Blackhawks over the summer.] ... so that will be really helpful for the rest of the group. Obviously, Kirby is an elite player and he's a really good person, so we'll rely on him as a leader."
On Nov. 10, Hockey Canada announced that Owen Power would not be released by the University of Michigan to attend selection camp. The Wolverines are slated to begin their season on Nov. 14 against Arizona State.
“We understand this year’s World Juniors and selection camp are unique, but we believe the chance to represent Canada is a tremendous opportunity for any young player," Salmond in a statement regarding Power, who is a top prospect for the 2021 draft. "Although we are disappointed Owen will not be able to join our team at camp, we understand and respect the decision made by the University of Michigan.”
In the end, 46 players entered the Red Deer bubble for selection camp.
2020 NHL Draft: Complete list of selections for Rounds 1-7
| Name | Position | Hometown | Club team | NHL Draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Beckman | Forward | Saskatoon, Sask. | Spokane (WHL) | MIN (2019) |
| Mavrik Bourque | Forward | Plessisville, Que. | Shawinigan (QMJHL) | DAL (2020) |
| Quinton Byfield | Forward | Newmarket, Ont. | Sudbury (OHL) | LAK (2020) |
| Graeme Clarke | Forward | Nepean, Ont. | Ottawa (OHL) | NJD (2019) |
| Dylan Cozens | Forward | Whitehorse, Yukon | Lethbridge (WHL) | BUF (2019) |
| Kirby Dach | Forward | Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. | Blackhawks (NHL) | CHI (2019) |
| Tyson Foerster | Forward | Alliston, Ont. | Barrie (OHL) | PHI (2020) |
| Gage Goncalves | Forward | Mission, B.C. | Everett (WHL) | TBL (2020) |
| Ridly Greig | Forward | Lethbridge, Alta. | Brandon (WHL) | OTT (2020) |
| Dylan Holloway | Forward | Bragg Creek, Alta. | Wisconsin (Big Ten) | EDM (2020) |
| Seth Jarvis | Forward | Winnipeg, Man. | Portland (WHL) | CAR (2020) |
| Peyton Krebs | Forward | Okotoks, Alta. | Winnipeg (WHL) | VGK (2019) |
| Hendrix Lapierre | Forward | Gatineau, Que. | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) | WSH (2020) |
| Connor McMichael | Forward | Ajax, Ont. | London (OHL) | WSH (2019) |
| Dawson Mercer | Forward | Bay Roberts, Nfld. | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) | NJD (2020) |
| Alex Newhook | Forward | St. John's, Nfld. | Boston College (HE) | COL (2019) |
| Jakob Pelletier | Forward | Quebec City, Que. | Val-d'Or (QMJHL) | CGY (2019) |
| Cole Perfetti | Forward | Whitby, Ont. | Saginaw (OHL) | WPG (2020) |
| Samuel Poulin | Forward | Blainville, Que. | Sherbrooke (QMJHL) | PIT (2019) |
| Jack Quinn | Forward | Cobden, Ont. | Ottawa (OHL) | BUF (2020) |
| Jamieson Rees | Forward | Hamilton, Ont. | Sarnia (OHL) | CAR (2019) |
| Cole Schwindt | Forward | Kitchener, Ont. | Mississauga (OHL) | FLA (2019) |
| Xavier Simoneau | Forward | Saint-Andre-Avellin, Que. | Drummondville (QMJHL) | 2021 Draft |
| Ryan Suzuki | Forward | London, Ont. | Saginaw (OHL) | CAR (2019) |
| Philip Tomasino | Forward | Mississauga, Ont. | Oshawa (OHL) | NSH (2019) |
| Shane Wright | Forward | Burlington, Ont. | Kingston (OHL) | 2022 Draft |
| Connor Zary | Forward | Saskatoon, Sask. | Kamloops (WHL) | CGY (2020) |
| Justin Barron | Defense | Halifax, N.S. | Halifax (QMJHL) | COL (2020) |
| Bowen Byram | Defense | Cranbrook, B.C. | Vancouver (WHL) | COL (2019) |
| Lukas Cormier | Defense | Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B. | Charlottetown (QMJHL) | VGK (2020) |
| Jamie Drysdale | Defense | Toronto, Ont. | Erie (OHL) | ANA (2020) |
| Kaiden Guhle | Defense | Sherwood Park, Alta. | Prince Albert (WHL) | MTL (2020) |
| Thomas Harley | Defense | Jamesville, N.Y. | Mississauga (OHL) | DAL (2019) |
| Daemon Hunt | Defense | Brandon, Man. | Moose Jaw (WHL) | MIN (2020) |
| Kaedan Korczak | Defense | Yorkton, Sask. | Kelowna (WHL) | VGK (2019) |
| Mason Millman | Defense | London, Ont. | Saginaw (OHL) | PHI (2019) |
| Ryan O'Rourke | Defense | Bowmanville, Ont. | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | MIN (2020) |
| Matthew Robertson | Defense | Sherwood Park, Alta. | Edmonton (WHL) | NYR (2019) |
| Braden Schneider | Defense | Prince Albert, Sask. | Brandon (WHL) | NYR (2020) |
| Donovan Sebrango | Defense | Kingstron, Ont. | Kitchener (OHL) | DET (2020) |
| Jordan Spence | Defense | Cornwall, P.E.I. | Moncton (QMJHL) | LAK (2019) |
| Brett Brochu | Goaltender | Tilbury, Ont. | London (OHL) | 2021 Draft |
| Dylan Garand | Goaltender | Victoria, B.C. | Kamloops (WHL) | NYR (2020) |
| Taylor Gauthier | Goaltender | Calgary, Alta. | Prince George (WHL) | 2021 Draft |
| Tristan Lennox | Goaltender | Cambridge, Ont. | Saginaw (OHL) | 2021 Draft |
| Devon Levi | Goaltender | Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. | Northeastern (HE) | FLA (2020) |
How will the selection camp run?
Normally, the camp is held in early December and leads directly into the tournament; however, because of the pandemic, this year it will run from Nov. 16 to Dec. 13 in a bubble in Red Deer, Alberta, before the team heads to the Edmonton bubble.
The monthlong closed camp was expected to include practices, three intrasquad games and, from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13, six games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars.
"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," Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney said in the news release. "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."
Once the team enters the Edmonton bubble, Canada is expected to play Sweden and Russia in pre-tournament exhibition games — although those games may be cancelled due to COVID-19. Canada defeated Russia in the gold-medal game in 2020.
How has COVID-19 impacted the selection camp?
Five players did not play in the first intrasquad game on Nov. 21: goaltender Devon Levi and forwards Ridly Greig, Dylan Holloway, Alex Newhook and Xavier Simoneau. Levi, Holloway and Newhook all play college hockey in the United States and are subject to Canada's 14-day quarantine requirement. They are skating separately. Simoneau was not initially cleared to travel as he was awaiting a test result but was cleared by the end of the first week. Greig's agent Kevin Epp told TSN's Ryan Rishaug that he had tested positive for COVID-19 but was asymptomatic and he was in camp by the first weekend skating with the rest of the players in quarantine.
Senators draft pick Ridley Greig on the ice at HC camp in Red Deer. Finished his mandatory quarantine after testing positive for Covid (asymptomatic) earlier in November. Skating with the NCAA cohort for now, but likely joins main group this week. pic.twitter.com/1Lu8A1fPsV
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) November 22, 2020
On Nov. 21, Hockey Canada announced that a non-core staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member and those who came into close contact with them, including assistant coaches Jason Labarbera and Michael Dyck, were placed in self-isolation. Labarbera and Dyck will continue coaching via video with Tyler Dietrich taking over Dyck's power-play duties for now.
Three days later, on Nov. 24, the last intrasquad scrimmage was postponed as two players tested positive for COVID-19 and were placed in quarantine in the team's hotel.
"Upon learning of the positive test this morning, the decision was made to postpone the Red-White game scheduled for this morning at the Westerner Park Centrium, and to suspend all camp activities for today," Salmond said in a statement. "As per Hockey Canada’s safety protocols, all players, coaches and staff members took mandatory COVID-19 tests upon arrival at camp and have continued to be tested regularly throughout the past ten days. For precautionary reasons, we will also ensure that all players and team personnel go through an additional test before resuming camp activities.
"The appropriate local and provincial health authorities have been made aware of the situation, and we will continue to work closely with Alberta Health Services. We will have no further comment at this time.”
On Wednesday, Nov. 25, Hockey Canada announced that it had temporarily shut down camp as two players tested positive, with players coaches and staff entering a 14-day quarantine retroactive to Nov. 23. All camp activities were placed on hold until Dec. 6 and all games against U Sports were cancelled.
Canada got back on the ice on Dec. 8 in Red Deer with five fewer players who were released one day prior. Per Salmond, the decision to cut those players was strictly a health decision and not a hockey decision as they were "unfit to continue to play based on return-to-play protocols."
Matthew Robertson, Mason Millman, Xavier Simoneau, Daemon Hunt and Ridly Greig were the players cut leaving 41 in camp.
Who has been cut from the roster?
Dec. 8
As mentioned above: Matthew Robertson, Mason Millman, Xavier Simoneau, Daemon Hunt and Ridly Greig were the players cut leaving 41 in camp.
Dec. 10
Seven players were released a day before the final cuts will be made leaving 34 players in camp. Goalies Brett Brochu and Tristan Lennox and forwards Adam Beckman, Tyson Foerster, Hendrix Lapierre, Cole Schwindt and Shane Wright were released. With two goalies being cut, the three remaining are officially on the team and will be heading to Edmonton.
Dec. 11
The final cuts were made on Friday as Canada prepared to enter the Edmonton bubble on Dec. 13. Forwards Mavrik Bourque, Graeme Clarke, Gage Goncalves, Seth Jarvis, Samuel Poulin and Jamieson Rees and defensemen Lukas Cormier, Ryan O'Rourke and Donovan Sebrango were released.
MORE: Which players are on Canada's final roster?
When will Canada’s 2020 World Juniors roster be finalized?
Normally, rosters are not required to be finalized until the day before the tournament begins. This year's tournament begins on Christmas Day with a tripleheader. Canada's first game will be, as usual, on Boxing Day when it takes on Germany at 6 p.m. ET.
Unlike in previous years where the roster limit is 23, including three goalies, this year's team will have two extra skater spots for a full 25.
The team is expected to announce the final roster on Dec. 11 before entering the Edmonton bubble on Dec. 13.
2021 WJC: Tournament schedule
Who in camp played on Canada's 2020 World Juniors team?
Six players return from 2020's gold-medal winning team: Quinton Byfield, Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Jamie Drysdale, Connor McMichael and Dawson Mercer.
2020 GOLD: Canada bests Russia to win WJC
Where is Alexis Lafreniere?
On Dec. 3, Hockey Canada announced that Lafreniere will not be on the roster when the puck drops on the team's opening game on Boxing Day.
"After ongoing discussions with the New York Rangers, Hockey Canada has been informed that Alexis Lafrenière will not be released to represent Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton," Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada senior vice president of national teams, said in a statement. "Although we are disappointed Alexis will not be able to join our team for World Juniors, we understand and respect the decision made by the Rangers."
While the 2020 tournament MVP and No. 1 overall draft pick was left off this selection camp list, he was on the minds of Hockey Canada over the summer. He was invited to the online summer evaluation camp but was not required to attend.
Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said on a call with reporters announcing Lafreniere's entry-level contract that the Rangers wanted the rookie in New York to prepare for his first NHL season. When asked by Sporting News whether the NHL's start date being pushed further into 2021 from the tentative Jan. 1 date would affect Lafreniere's World Juniors availability, he noted that there had been some discussions.
"We're talking about those scenarios and what's going to happen," Gorton said. "Right now our focus is, get him here as soon as we can and have him start training and be here and start focusing on the NHL season, and then we'll take it as far as it comes as far as the world junior or any other situation that might come up."
Speaking on a call with reporters following the selection camp roster announcement, Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney said the organization had preliminary discussions with the Rangers.
"Jeff Gorton and I had a good chat, gave Jeff the opportunity to understand our timetable of what might be coming up with respect to this camp for example, and well beyond that," Renney, a former Rangers head coach, said. "Jeff was certainly open-minded to the idea. [He's] hoping his player would have the opportunity to join the NHL team in New York as of now actually, to begin skating with the club."
Renney noted that he would circle back with Gorton in 10 days, but obviously there was no change.
With Lafreniere not in the Red Deer bubble, it was initially thought he could enter the Edmonton bubble with the rest of the team on Dec. 13. During postgame availability following an intrasquad game on Nov. 21, Salmond announced that Lafreniere would have to join the team by Dec. 6. IIHF rules now state teams must be together for one week prior to Dec. 13 and everyone must have three negative tests. For now, the NHL season's start — while still projected for Jan. 1 — is up in the air, although most speculate a decision will have to come soon for the puck to drop at the start of the new year.
Which Team Canada players have NHL game experience?
Out of the 47 players named to the selection camp, only Kirby Dach (Blackhawks) and Thomas Harley (Stars) have NHL experience.
Which players are 2021 draft-eligible?
There are a total of five players that are eligible for the 2021 NHL Draft and one player — Shane Wright — for the 2022 Draft. Wright, who was granted exceptional status by the CHL and played for the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs in 2019-20, is expected to be the No. 1 overall selection in two years. At just 16, he is the youngest player named to the selection camp.
"Hell of a player," Tourigny said about Wright (if Canada plays in the gold-medal game on Jan. 5, he'll do so as a 17-year-old).
"I guess I love him or I hate him when he has the yellow and white jersey [of the Frontenacs]," added Tourigny, who has coached against him with the Ottawa 67's in 2019-20.
"When he played in Kingston in the training camp, yeah, pretty good player. ... Saw him early in the season, I say: 'Oh, he got much better' and then I saw him at Christmas, said: 'Oh my God, he's really good.' Then when I saw him at the end of the season and I said: 'This guy's a superstar.' ... It's not a secret, he's an elite talent."