7 players from the WHL have been invited to Hockey Canada’s World Junior selection camp.
Ty Smith – 36 points in 24 games so far this season as a defenceman with Spokane. An absolute stud on the backend, spent time in the New Jersey Devils lineup this season. He’s a lock to make Canada.
Josh Brook – 29 points in 22 games this season captaining Tim Hunter’s Moose Jaw Warriors. Less of a lock than Smith, but I expect him to be on Team Canada’s Back-end at Rogers Arena this holiday.
Cody Glass – 51 points in 24 games. Widely considered one of the best forwards in the WHL this season. Go ahead and get your Glass Team Canada jersey, unless you already have one, he was there last year.
Brett Leason – 60 points in 27 games. Leading Prince Albert to a dominate 16-1-0-0 record. Leads the entire CHL in points, and has had a point in every game the Raiders have played this year. He’s on the bubble as he’s never been in the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence before.
Ian Scott – Backstopping the Prince Albert Raiders in all but four of their wins this year. Scott has a sparkling 1.61 GAA and a .943 S%. If those numbers weren’t enough he also boasts four shutouts. Seems to be the consensus backup goalie to Canucks draft pick Micheal Dipetro.
Calen Addison – 28 points in 27 games playing for defence for the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Bit of an outside shot as Canada’s defensive corps are always solid. quality players get left out all the time.
Jaret-Anderson Dolan – 2 Goals in both games he’s played this year in Spokane. He also played five games with the Los Angeles Kings. Unfortunately for Canada he is still sidelined with an upper body injury. If he was healthy the 19-year-old forward would have been a lock. As it stands, it looks like he could be back for the start of the tournament. If he is, he will be in Vancouver.
You can find the full list with every player HERE.
Team Canada will be named on December 15th.
Outside of Hockey Canada, there have been 9 players (as of December 5th, 2018) either invited to selection camp, or selected to their country’s team.
(Updated December 3rd, 2018)
Lassi Thomson (Kelowna) – 19 points in 29 games – Defence – Finland.
Libor Zabransky (Kelowna) – 8 points in 28 games – Defence – Czech Republic
Jiri Patera (Brandon) – 2.93 GAA and .915 S% in 21 games – Goaltender – Czech Republic
Krystof Hrabik (Tri-City) – 17 points in 26 games. – Forward – Czech Republic
Filip Kral (Spokane) – 7 points in 13 games – Defenceman – Czech Republic
Andrej Kukuca (Seattle) – 20 points in 25 games – Forward – Slovakia
Mads Sogaard (Medicine Hat) – 2.50 GAA and .924 S% in 15 games – Goaltender – Denmark
Philip Schultz (Victoria) – 7 points in 21 games – Forward – Denmark
Alexander Alexeyvev (Red Deer) – 30 points in 26 games – Defence – Russia
