Call it the “Alan Millar Influence” as the former Moose Jaw Warriors G-M has selected 15 W-H-L players to attend the selection camp for Team Canada ahead of the next World Junior Championship this holiday season.
All told, there were 35 players chosen with the Dub having far and away the most representation. None of those W-H-Lers call Saskatchewan home, but two play for Saskatchewan-based teams…defenceman Daemon Hunt of the Moose Jaw Warriors and forward Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats. The 35 players are split into 21 forwards 11 defencemen and three goaltenders…the latter of whom will all be on the 25-man roster for the World Juniors, starting Boxing Day in Edmonton and Red Deer. The selection camp starts December 9 in Calgary. Following are news releases from, both, Hockey Canada and the W-H-L…..
December 1, 2021
NR.054.21
HOCKEY CANADA INVITES 35 PLAYERS TO NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM SELECTION CAMP
Camp to begin Dec. 9 in Calgary ahead of 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship
CALGARY, Alta. – With less than one month until the puck drops on the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), has announced a roster of 35 players who have earned an invitation to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp, set for Dec. 9-12 in Calgary.
The roster was selected by Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, and James Boyd (Midland, Ont./Ottawa, OHL), the U20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group, with support from Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of national teams. Head coach Dave Cameron (Kinkora, P.E.I./Ottawa, OHL), and assistant coaches Michael Dyck (Lethbridge, Alta./Vancouver, WHL), Louis Robitaille (Montreal, Que./Gatineau, QMJHL) and Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL), as well as goaltending consultant Olivier Michaud (Beloeil, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL), also provided input, along with coaches and general managers across the CHL.
“We are excited to unveil the 35 players who will compete for a spot on Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, and to continue working towards winning a gold medal on home ice,” said Millar. “We know our athletes and staff are ready for a highly-competitive selection camp, and we look forward to assembling a group that will wear the Maple Leaf with pride and embrace the opportunity to once again compete in front of fans in Alberta.”
The players, including three goaltenders, 11 defencemen and 21 forwards, will compete for a chance to represent Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta. The three goaltenders – Brett Brochu (Belle River, Ont./London, OHL), Sebastian Cossa (Fort McMurray, Alta./Edmonton, WHL) and Dylan Garand (Victoria, B.C./Kamloops, WHL) – have been named to Canada’s final roster for the 2022 World Juniors.
Among the 35 players are three returnees who won a silver medal at the 2021 World Juniors – Garand, Kaiden Guhle (Sherwood Park, Alta./Prince Albert, WHL) and Cole Perfetti (Whitby, Ont./Manitoba, AHL).
“A lot of effort has gone in to selecting 35 athletes who have a chance to represent Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, and we expect to make some difficult decisions when it comes to selecting a final roster,” said Salmond. “It is always an honour to represent Canada on the world stage, and even more so when you can do it on home ice, and we know our athletes and staff are excited for the opportunity to compete in Edmonton and Red Deer.”
Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp will be held at the WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. It will include practices and two games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on Dec. 11 and 12 before the team heads to Banff, Alta., for a training camp, Dec. 14-19.
The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with Canada kicking off its tournament schedule against the Czech Republic. In addition to its opening-night match-up, Canada will also play Austria on Dec. 28, Germany on Dec. 29 and Finland on Dec. 31 to wrap up preliminary-round action. All Team Canada games will be played at 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET
HOCKEY CANADA INVITES 15 WHL PLAYERS TO NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM SELECTION CAMP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
Calgary, Alta. – 15 Western Hockey League players have been invited to participate at Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp, scheduled for December 9-12 in Calgary.
Hockey Canada announced the roster of 35 players Wednesday morning.
WHL Players – National Junior Team Selection Camp
| Last Name | First Name | Team | Hometown | Height | Weight | Position |
| Cossa | Sebastian | Edmonton Oil Kings | Fort McMurray, Alta. | 6’7” | 203 | G |
| Garand | Dylan | Kamloops Blazers | Victoria, B.C. | 6’1” | 179 | G |
| Guhle | Kaiden | Prince Albert Raiders | Sherwood Park, Alta. | 6’3” | 203 | D |
| Hunt | Daemon | Moose Jaw Warriors | Brandon, Man. | 6’1” | 198 | D |
| Iorio | Vincent | Brandon Wheat Kings | Coquitlam, B.C. | 6’3” | 204 | D |
| Lambos | Carson | Winnipeg ICE | Winnipeg, Man. | 6’1” | 195 | D |
| Seeley | Ronan | Everett Silvertips | Olds, Alta. | 6’1” | 192 | D |
| Zellweger | Olen | Everett Silvertips | Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. | 5’10” | 175 | D |
| Bedard | Connor | Regina Pats | North Vancouver, B.C. | 5’9” | 180 | F |
| Finley | Jack | Spokane Chiefs | Kelowna, B.C. | 6’6” | 223 | F |
| Greig | Ridly | Brandon Wheat Kings | Lethbridge, Alta. | 5’11” | 164 | F |
| Guenther | Dylan | Edmonton Oil Kings | Edmonton, Alta. | 6’2” | 181 | F |
| Neighbours | Jake | Edmonton Oil Kings | Airdrie, Alta. | 6’0” | 197 | F |
| Sourdif | Justin | Vancouver Giants | Surrey, B.C. | 5’11” | 182 | F |
| Stankoven | Logan | Kamloops Blazers | Kamloops, B.C. | 5’8” | 170 | F |
Of the 15 WHL players invited, two (Garand, Guhle) are returnees from the Team Canada squad that won a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Alta. As only three goaltenders have been invited to the Selection Camp, both Garand and Sebastian Cossa have been named to the final roster for the 2022 World Juniors.
The Edmonton Oil Kings boast three invitees, while the Brandon Wheat Kings, Everett Silvertips, and Kamloops Blazers will be represented with two players each. The Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Spokane Chiefs, Vancouver Giants and Winnipeg ICE each have one invitee to the Selection Camp.
“We are excited to unveil the 35 players who will compete for a spot on Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, and to continue working towards winning a gold medal on home ice,” said Alan Millar, Director of Player Personnel for the Program of Excellence, and former General Manager of the Moose Jaw Warriors. “We know our athletes and staff are ready for a highly-competitive selection camp, and we look forward to assembling a group that will wear the Maple Leaf with pride and embrace the opportunity to once again compete in front of fans in Alberta.”
Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp will be held at the WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. It will include practices and two games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on December 11 and 12 before the team heads to Banff, Alta., for a training camp, December 14-19.
In addition to the 15 players taking part in the National Junior Team Selection Camp, the WHL will be further represented by assistant coaches Michael Dyck (Vancouver Giants) and Dennis Williams (Everett Silvertips), along with athletic therapist Mike Burnstein (Vancouver Giants) and team physician Dr. Barry Wiens (Red Deer Rebels).
The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with Canada kicking off its tournament schedule against the Czech Republic. In addition to its opening-night match-up, Canada will also play Austria on December 28, Germany on December 29 and Finland on December 31 to wrap up preliminary-round action. All Team Canada games will be played at 5:00 p.m. MT.
