QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — In preparation for the 2012 World Junior Championship beginning on December 26th, the Canadian National Team announced to 13 players the adventure with the National Team ended.
Two goaltenders, Tyler Bunz from the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League and Louis Domingue of the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Junior Major Hockey League, received the bad news following the second exhibition game against the University team in Alberta.
On defense, four players also heard the telephone on Wednesday morning requesting their presence in the head coach Don Hay office to learn the bad news.
Cody Ceci from the Ottawa 67’s and Ryan Murphy from the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League, Joe Morrow from the Portland Winterhawks and Alex Petrovic from Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League will return to their respective teams.
Offensively, seven players were also getting the bad news. Two from the OHL, Christian Thomas from the Oshawa Generals and Tyler Toffoli from the Ottawa 67’s, three from the Western Hockey League, Brett Bulmer of the Kelowna Rockets, Ty Rattie and Brad Ross both playing for the Portland Winterhawks, one player from the QMJHL Phillip Danault of the Victoriaville Tigres and Phil Di Guiseppe who play for the Michigan Wolverines in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
With final decisions been made the coaching staff will now turn their attention to final preparation to make sure the Canadian under 20 National Team will battle to win the gold medal won by the Russian team in last year’s tournament.
Now let’s have a look to the one who has been retained to represent the Canadian under 20 National Team.
In goal, returning from last year will be Mark Visentin the first round pick 27th pick overall in 2010 by the Phoenix Coyotes will be the main guy between the pipes. Playing for the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League Scott Wedgewood, the New Jersey Devils 3rd round selection 84th overall in 2010, once considered the odd-man out in the battle as the backup to Visentin surprisingly won his battle against the other two from the QMJHL, Domingue and Bunz from the WHL.
On defense, head coach Hay will bring seven defensemen, three from the OHL, selected 14th overall in 2011 first round by the Dallas Stars the 6’06”.5 Jamie Oleksiak who play for the Saginaw Spirits will be interesting to follow knowing it will take mobility to play at the International level. Playing for the Niagara Icedogs the 6’04 192 pound Dougie Hamilton is one whom the coaching staff to launch Canada offense from defense. The right defenseman was a first round pick 9th overall by Boston in 2011. The last OHL defenseman came from the London Knights and was a second round pick 54th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011.
Two players came from the WHL, two from the QMJHL. Selected by Buffalo Sabres in first round 23rd overall in 2010 Mark Pysyk plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings, Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips is the only one who will be eligible in 2011 on Canadian National team defense.
Brandon Gormley of the Moncton Wildcats a Phoenix Coyotes first round selection 13th overall in 2010 and Nathan Beaulieu another first round pick 17th overall in 2011 plays for the defending Memorial Cup Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL.
Offensively the coaching staff chooses five representing the OHL, three from the WHL, two from the QMJHL, two still eligible from the NHL and one from the College.
Representing the Ontario Hockey League, Freddie Hamilton (Niagara Icedogs, San Jose 5th round selection 129th overall), Tanner Pearson (Barrie Colts, eligible in 2012), Ryan Strome (Niagara Icedogs, New York Islanders first round pick 5th overall), Mark Scheifele (Barrie Colts, Winnipeg first round selection 7th overall in 2011) and Boone Jenner (Oshawa Generals, second round selection by Columbus Blue Jackets 37th overall in 2011)
Representing the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League: Michael Bournival (Shawinigan Cataractes, Colorado third round selection 71st overall in 2010, traded to Montreal) and Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John Sea Dogs, Florida first round selection 3rd overall in 2011)
Representing the NHL: Brett Connelly (Tampa Bay Lightning first round selection 6th overall in 2010) and Devante Smyth-Pelley (Anaheim Ducks second round 42nd overall in 2010)
Representing the WHL: Brendan Galllagher (Vancouver Giants, fifth round selection 147th overall in 2010), Mark Stone (Brandon Wheat Kings, sixth round selection 178th overall by Ottawa in 2010) and Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors, Florida first round selection 25th overall in 2010)
Representing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association: Jaden Schwartz ( Colorado College, first round selection 14th overall by St Louis Blues in 2010)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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