Canada’s World Jr. team missing big-time talent
Posted Dec 12, 2011 7:39 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Watching Team Canada compete at the World Junior Hockey Championship has become a Christmas holiday tradition for many families.
While Canada’s juniors are usually the best in the world, this year our success in churning-out world-class players could actually backfire.
That’s because the best-of-the-best just aren’t available, with six eligible Canadian players currently in the NHL.
That includes Tyler Seguin, Jeff Skinner, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Erik Gudbranson, Ryan Johansen and Sean Couturier.
NHL clubs have the option to release the players to the Canadian team if they choose, but those six players are all playing key roles on their clubs.
For instance, Skinner was last season’s NHL rookie of the year with Carolina, while Nugent-Hopkins leads the Edmonton Oilers in goals and points through 30 games this season.
Team Canada is currently holding its selection camp in Calgary, where 42 players are battling it out to make the team.
Only three players are returning from last year’s silver medallists; forwards Quinton Howden and Jaden Schwartz and goaltender Mark Visentin.
