Hockey Canada has announced the roster for the IIHF Under 18 Training Camp. From this camp a 22-man roster will be assembled to compete at the Under 18 World Championships opening on April 17 in Lapeenranta and Imatra, Finland.
Last year Canada won gold at the Under 18s and nine players from that roster return this year.
Top prospects for the 2014 NHL draft include Sam Bennett, Brendan Perlini, Haydn Fleury, and Jake Virtanen. For these players it will be their last chance in game action to impress NHL scouts ahead of the 2014 NHL draft.
Players not eligible to be drafted until 2015 include Jeremy Roy, Parker Wotherspoon, Lawson Crouse, Jansen Harkins, Graham Knott, Travis Konecny, Nathan Noel, and Nicolas Roy.
The team currently features three goaltenders, six defencemen and 13 forwards on the training camp roster. It is expected that more names will be added as teams are eliminated in the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL playoffs. Currently the list features eight WHL players, eight OHL players, and six QMJHL players.
The biggest omission on the list appears to be Josh Ho-Sang of the Windsor Spitfires, who most draft analysts have as a first round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. Ho-Sang had 85 points in 67 games for Windsor this season.
It will be up to new head coach Kevin Dineen, and his staff, to decide on the 22-player roster. This is Dineen’s first time coaching at the Under 18s. He is coming off coaching the Canadian Women’s team to an Olympic Gold Medal in Sochi.
Canada opens the tournament on April 17th against Sweden.
Canada U18 Training Camp Roster
Goaltenders
Julio Billia, Chicoutimi (QMJHL); Mason MacDonald, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL); Brent Moran, Niagara (OHL)
Defencemen
Haydn Fleury, Red Deer (WHL); Roland McKeown, Kingston (OHL); Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke (QMJHL); Travis Sanheim, Calgary (WHL); Ben Thomas, Calgary (WHL); Parker Wotherspoon, Tri-City (WHL);
Forwards
x – Sam Bernnett, Kingston (OHL); Clark Bishop, Cape Breton (QMJHL); Connor Bleackley, Red Deer (WHL); Lawson Crouse, Kingston (OHL); Jansen Harkins, Prince George (WHL); Graham Knott, Niagara (OHL); Travis Konency, Ottawa (OHL); Nathan Noel, Saint John (QMJHL); Brendan Perlini, Niagara (OHL); Brayden Point, Moose Jaw (WHL); Nicolas Roy, Chicoutimi (QMJHL); x- Jake Virtanen, Calgary (WHL), x- Spencer Watson, Kingston (OHL).
x = injured, will not participate in training camp but eligible to play on the team if recovered.
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