Bedard, Wright, Power headline Canada's 25-man world junior roster
Team Canada has unveiled the 25 players it will take to Alberta for the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship.
The roster features the next two projected first overall NHL draft picks in 17-year-old Shane Wright and 16-year-old Connor Bedard, as well as 2021's No. 1 selection Owen Power.
Bedard is now in an elite company of 16-year-olds who have made the team. Only seven other players were chosen for Canada's world junior squad at that age: Connor McDavid (2014), Sidney Crosby (2004), Jason Spezza (2000), Jay Bouwmeester (2000), Eric Lindros (1990), Bill Campbell (1981), and Wayne Gretzky (1978).
Here's the full roster:
*denotes returning player
Forwards
| Player | Current team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|
| Connor Bedard | Regina (WHL) | 2023 eligible |
| Xavier Bourgault | Shawinigan (QMJHL) | EDM |
| Mavrik Bourque | Shawinigan (QMJHL) | DAL |
| Will Cuylle | Windsor (OHL) | NYR |
| Elliot Desnoyers | Halifax (QMJHL) | PHI |
| Ridly Greig | Brandon (WHL) | OTT |
| Dylan Guenther | Edmonton (WHL) | ARI |
| Kent Johnson | Michigan (NCAA) | CLB |
| Mason McTavish | Peterborough (OHL) | ANA |
| Jake Neighbours | Edmonton (WHL) | STL |
| Cole Perfetti* | Manitoba (AHL) | WPG |
| Justin Sourdif | Vancouver (WHL) | FLA |
| Logan Stankoven | Kamloops (WHL) | DAL |
| Shane Wright | Kingston (OHL) | 2022 eligible |
Defense
| Player | Current team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|
| Lukas Cormier | Charlottetown (QMJHL) | VGK |
| Kaiden Guhle* | Edmonton (WHL) | MTL |
| Carson Lambos | Winnipeg (WHL) | MIN |
| Ryan O'Rourke | Soo (OHL) | MIN |
| Owen Power | Michigan (NCAA) | BUF |
| Donovan Sebrango | Grand Rapids (AHL) | DET |
| Ronan Seeley | Everett (WHL) | CAR |
| Olen Zellweger | Everett (WHL) | ANA |
Goaltending
| Player | Current team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|
| Brett Brochu | London (OHL) | 2022 eligible |
| Sebastian Cossa | Edmonton (WHL) | DET |
| Dylan Garand* | Kamloops (WHL) | NYR |
Washington Capitals 2020 first-rounder Hendrix Lapierre is the most notable cut. The 19-year-old center has already played in six NHL games for the Caps this season. Additionally, Canada didn't invite Los Angeles Kings' 2021 eighth overall pick defenseman Brandt Clarke to its training camp.
This squad has no shortage of star power, though, as it features 12 players NHL teams already selected in the draft's first round: Bourgault, Bourque, Greig, Guenther, Johnson, McTavish, Neighbours, Perfetti, Guhle, Lambos, Power, and Cossa.
While the club lacks world junior experience, it isn't short on pro experience. McTavish, Neighbours, and Perfetti have already combined to play 20 games in the league this campaign.
Power, meanwhile, was a key cog in Canada's gold medal victory at the 2021 World Championship.
Canada is coming off a silver-medal result at the 2021 world juniors, as the United States took gold. The team has alternated gold medals in recent years, though, winning in 2018 and 2020, and they're 18-time winners at the event - the most all-time.
The Canadians will open their 2022 tournament on Boxing Day against the Czech Republic.