World Junior Hockey 2016 Canada Roster: 23-Man Team for Championships
On Sunday, the Canadian national team announced its final 23-man roster for the 2016 IIHF Junior World Championships starting on Dec. 26 in Helsinki, Finland.
Featuring some of the best young talent in the world, Canada is looking to defend its 2015 championship—its 16th title at the world junior competition.
Here is the 23-man roster, including where the team members are currently playing and which NHL team drafted them, per the Canadian Press (via TSN.ca):
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| Mathew Barzal | 18 | C | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | New York Islanders (2015) |
| Anthony Beauvillier | 18 | LW | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) | New York Islanders (2015) |
| Rourke Chartier | 19 | C | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) | San Jose Sharks (2014) |
| Lawson Crouse | 18 | LW | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) | Florida Panthers (2015) |
| Julien Gauthier | 18 | RW | Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) | 2016 Draft Eligible |
| Travis Konecny | 18 | RW | Ottawa 67's (OHL) | Philadelphia Flyers (2015) |
| Mitch Marner | 18 | RW | London Knights (OHL) | Toronto Maple Leafs (2015) |
| Brendan Perlini | 19 | LW | Niagara IceDogs (OHL) | Arizona Coyotes (2014) |
| Brayden Point | 19 | C | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) | Tampa Bay Lightning (2014) |
| John Quenneville | 19 | C | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) | New Jersey Devils (2014) |
| Mitchell Stephens | 18 | C | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | Tampa Bay Lightning (2015) |
| Dylan Strome | 18 | C | Erie Otters (OHL) | Arizona Coyotes (2015) |
| Jake Virtanen | 19 | RW | Vancouver Canucks (NHL) | Vancouver Canucks (2014) |
| Thomas Chabot | 18 | D | Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) | Ottawa Senators (2015) |
| Travis Dermott | 18 | D | Erie Otters (OHL) | Toronto Maple Leafs (2015) |
| Haydn Fleury | 19 | D | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) | Carolina Hurricanes (2014) |
| Joe Hicketts | 19 | D | Victoria Royals (WHL) | Detroit Red Wings (Undrafted-2014) |
| Brandon Hickey | 19 | D | Boston University (NCAA) | Calgary Flames (2014) |
| Roland McKeown | 19 | D | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) | Los Angeles Kings (2014) |
| Travis Sanheim | 19 | D | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) | Philadelphia Flyers (2014) |
| MacKenzie Blackwood | 18 | G | Barrie Colts (OHL) | New Jersey Devils (2015) |
| Mason McDonald | 19 | G | Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) | Calgary Flames (2014) |
| Samuel Montembeault | 19 | G | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) | Florida Panthers (2015) |
In order to finalize its 23-man roster, Canada had to cut four players Sunday. Among them was Montreal Canadiens' 2015 draft pick Noah Juulsen, a defenseman who was selected 26th overall.
Scott Salmond, the vice president of hockey operations for Hockey Canada, spoke with the Canadian Press (via CBC.ca):
"We had a really good evaluation period in Toronto and Imatra, and were able to see how the players responded to different situations — from practices to games. These are never easy decisions, but we feel confident in the team we have and their ability to make the nation proud and give us all something to get behind this holiday season.
"
Hockey Canada relived its past year of preparations for Helsinki, too:
Canada is headlined by the 2015 No. 3 and No. 4 NHL draft selections Dylan Strome and Mitch Marner. Both forwards are scoring machines for their respective teams in the OHL.
Strome, with the Erie Otters, has recorded 16 goals and 37 assists in 25 games. Marner, with the London Knights, has 22 goals and 36 assists in the same amount of games.
With these scorers on a top line, Canada has a high-powered foundation for a lethal first unit that any country is going to have trouble stopping.
They are just two of 21 members of the roster that have been drafted by NHL teams in the past two years. Right winger Julien Gauthier is eligible for the draft in 2016, and defenseman Joe Hicketts went undrafted in 2014, later signing with the Detroit Red Wings.
Canada will be opening its tournament against the United States on Saturday, with the junior championships containing 10 teams split into two groups. The two are featured in a Group A that also includes Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland.
Each country plays every team in its respective group once before the top eight move on to the quarterfinal round. Once there, a single-elimination format takes over until the final.
Stats courtesy of EliteProspects.com.
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