Find out who's new to Team Canada's WJC roster - Eminetra Canada

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship was originally scheduled to take place this December and January, but due to COVID-19 the event was postponed and the tournament was scheduled to resume in the second week of August.

First Team Canada’s roster has 16 returning members, but nine skaters have had to be replaced due to injuries or to focus on upcoming NHL training camps.

Canada’s absentees include Shane Wright, Cole Parfetti, Dylan Gunther, Xavier Burgoat, Jake Neighbors, Maverick Burke, Justin Saudif, 2021 No. 1 overall pick Owen Power and Team Canada captain Kaiden Goulet.

With the tournament kicking off this week and Canada’s tournament opener against Latvia on Wednesday, we’re introducing nine new members of Team Canada.

Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL): Del Mastro was added to the roster on Sunday to replace Minnesota Wild prospect Damon Hunt. Del Mastro was selected by Chicago in the 4th round of the NHL Draft in 2021 and Mississauga in 2021-22 with the Steelheads. . At 6 feet 4 inches he weighs over 200 pounds, Del Mastro is the largest blueliner on the Canadian roster.

William Dufour, F, St John Sea Dogs (QMJHL): The New York Islanders drafted Dufour with a fifth-round pick two years ago, and the right-handed winger’s stock has risen significantly since then. Drummondville After spending his one-and-a-half season with the Voltigeurs, Dufour said he would become an attacking juggernaut with the Sea Dogs in 2021-22, scoring a whopping 116 points in 66 games. did. He led his QMJHL with his 56 goals and was named his MVP of the league. The Sea Dogs won the Memorial Cup in his June, and Dufour scored his best seven goals of the tournament and was named MVP of the tournament.

Tyson Forster, F, Barry Colts (OHL): The Flyers’ 2020 first-round pick, Foerster, who has spent most of the past two seasons playing against the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Philadelphia, underwent surgery to repair an injured shoulder. After that, the 2021-22 season was suspended. He is back to full health and should be one of Canada’s most physically intimidating forwards. Points taken from the Flyers’ development camp earlier this summer suggested that the team was impressed with Foerster’s improved conditioning.

Mike O’Connnell, Player Development Advisor for the Flyers organization, told Bill Meltzer: “You can see he’s gained a little weight. He looks stronger, he’s leaned in for me. He was never fat, but look at the players over the last three or four months. And you can see a big difference in his physique and the way he holds it.He eats right.It’s very noticeable.

Nathan Gaucher, F, Quebec Lampert (QMJHL): Gaucher is a prospect for the Anaheim Ducks to represent Canada in this year’s tournament, along with forward Mason McTavish and defenseman Oren Zellweger. Gaucher was selected 22nd overall in the July draft, and at 6-foot-3-inch and 207 pounds, Gaucher could be used as an effective netfront presence and should also help Canada forecheck.

Riley Kidney, F, Academy Bathurst Titan (QMJHL): Kidney hails from Enfield and is the sole representative of Nova Scotia on this roster. Kidney may start the tournament as one of Canada’s scratchers, but the 2021 Canadiens’ second-round pick is dangerous whenever the puck is on his stick.

Zach Ostapchuk, F, Vancouver Giants (WHL): Ostapchuk is another player with proven leadership skills as a junior club captain. His Giants coach Michael Dyke is a Canadian assistant, and Giants trainer Mike Bernstein is also on staff. Ostapchuk he can use his 6-foot-3 frame to shield the puck and provide extra scoring. He was named his 39th overall pick from the Ottawa Senators in 2021 and last season he led the Giants with 26 goals in 60 games.

“Zach’s game has been on a continuous upward trend since he started with the Giants,” Giants GM Barkley Parneta told The Aldergrove Star. “He has a great feel and feel for the game. He is a great skater and has established himself as a premier forward in the WHL and he will be a great member of the team Canada. “

Brennan Osman, F, Flint Firebirds (OHL): A front-runner in the New York Rangers system, Osman has experienced success at the international level in Canada with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Osman is a member of the gold medal-winning roster at the 2021 U18 World Championships and scored the go-ahead goal in the gold medal game against Russia. Did.

Joshua Roy, F, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL): The Montreal Canadiens’ five-round selection from 2021 has enjoyed a productive season in Quebec’s junior league. The seasoned forward, who can play either in center or on the wing, led the league with 119 points (51 goals, 68 assists) in 66 regular-season games and led the team with 23 points in 11 playoff games. He was also awarded the Paul He Dumont His Trophy as QMJHL Personality of the Year. This can have a positive effect on the team atmosphere. Roy has skated on the top line in Canada with Mason McTavish and Conor Bedard.

Jack Thompson, D, Sue St. Marie Greyhound (OHL): The 2020 Tampa Bay Lightning third-round pick was originally invited to selection camp in December but was unable to attend due to quarantine due to COVID-19. Thompson, 20, was captain of the Wolves at Sudbury when he was traded to the Greyhounds earlier this year. He also has experience playing for Sweden and Syracuse his crunch at AHL level, so he can be another source of leadership both on the ice and in the room.