Canadian World Junior camp named

Hockey Canada named the players invited to try out for the Canadian World Junior team today.

Excellent showing by the WHL this year - there are WHLers amongst the total players invited - 11 of 23 forwards, 5 of 12 defencemen, and 1 of 4 goaltenders. There is certain to be a strong WHL flavor on the final roster, with 17 of 39 total invitees from the WHL.

Complete roster at the link above. WHLers invited are:

G Calvin Pickard (Seattle)
D Tyson Barrie (Kelowna)
D Jared Cowen (Spokane)
D Brayden McNabb (Kootenay)
D Ryan Murray (Everett)
D Mark Pysyk (Edmonton)
F Carter Ashton (Regina)
F Brett Connolly (Prince George)
F Cody Eakin (Swift Current)
F Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver)
F Curtis Hamilton (Saskatoon)
F Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw)
F Ryan Howse (Chilliwack)
F Ryan Johansen (Portland)
F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer)
F Brad Ross (Portland)
F Linden Vey (Medicine Hat)

Also, D Dylan Olsen is a Medicine Hat list player who is playing NCAA, while forward Jaden Schwartz is a Tri-Cities list player who is also playing NCAA.

Only three 17 year old players were invited to what is usually an 18/19 year olds tournament - Ryan Murray and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the WHL were two of those three 17 year olds. They might be in tough to make the team since Canada has taken very few 16 & 17 year olds over the years, but you never know.

Brayden Schenn of the Wheat Kings was not named to the camp as he has not been released to the tournament by the Los Angeles Kings. If the Kings do decide to release him before camp starts, you can be sure he'll be added to the roster. Of all the eligible players who are currently in the NHL, you'd have to think that Schenn is the most likely to be released to play for Canada, since L.A. doesn't seem to have much use for him in the NHL right now.