Following a pair of wins over a U-Sports all-star team, and an 8-0 thrashing of the Czech Republic, Hockey Canada has made the final cuts and named their 2017 World Junior Championship team.
After cutting four players on Tuesday, head coach Dominic Ducharme made his final five roster cuts late Wednesday. Gone are goaltender Michael McNiven (MTL); forwards Sam Steel (Ana); and Zach Senyshyn (Bos); along with defencemen Guillaume Brisebois (Van) and Samuel Girard (Nas). The most surprising cut was Steel, who has been excellent in the WHL this season.
Canada Makes Final Cuts, World Junior Team Named
This leaves the roster at 22 players. It is possible that NHL teams could make available a junior aged prospect to Hockey Canada before the NHL’s Monday Roster freeze. However, TSN insider Bob McKenzie indicates that this is not likely to happen. Canada was looking to get one of Jacob Chychrun (Ari), Lawson Crouse (Ari), Mitch Marner (Tor), Travis Konecny (Phi) or Anthony Beauvillier (NYI). As a result, this looks like Canada’s team when they open the official Tournament on Boxing Day in Toronto.
Team CAN “officially” not getting any NHL players. @HockeyCanada contacted NHL teams today, got formal rejections from ARI, NYI, TOR, PHI.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 15, 2016
The core of the team likely consists of expected number one goalie Carter Hart, top forwards Dylan Strome and Mathew Barzal; and top defencemen Thomas Chabot, and Noah Juulsen.
Goalies:
Carter Hart (PHI)
Connor Ingram (TB)
Defencemen:
Jake Bean (CAR)
Thomas Chabot (OTT)
Kale Clague (LA)
Dante Fabbro (NSH)
Noah Juulsen (MTL)
Jeremy Lauzon (BOS)
Philippe Myers (PHI)
Forwards:
Mathew Barzal (NYI)
Anthony Cirelli (TB)
Dillon Dube (CGY)
Pierre-Luc Dubois (CBJ)
Julien Gauthier (CAR)
Mathieu Joseph (TB)
Tyson Jost (COL)
Michael McLeod (NJ)
Taylor Raddysh (TB)
Nicolas Roy (CAR)
Blake Speers (NJ)
Mitchell Stephens (TB)
Dylan Strome (ARI)
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