Monday, December 3, 2012

Team Canada Invite Roster For 2013 Junior Team

Goaltenders

Jordan Binnington L
Laurent Brossoit L
Jake Paterson L
Malcolm Subban L

Defense

Frank Corrado L
Mathew Dumba R
Dougie Hamilton R
Scott Harrington L
Ryan Murphy R
Xavier Ouellet L
Adam Pelech L
Derrick Pouliot L
Griffin Reinhart L
Morgan Rielly L
Ryan Sproul R
Tyler Wotherspoon L

Forwards

Francis Beauvillier L
Anthony Camara L
Daniel Catenacci L
Phillip Danault L
Jonathan Drouin L
Tyler Graovac L
Jonathan Huberdeau L
Charles Hudon L
Boone Jenner L
J.C. Lipon L
Nathan MacKinnon R
Mark McNeill R
Sean Monahan L
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins L
Ty Rattie R
Brett Ritchie R
Mark Scheifele R
Hunter Shinkaruk R
Colton Sissons R
Ryan Strome R
Tom Wilson R

Thoughts:
- Team Canada brass decided on a more veteran look especially on the defense and goaltender positions. Two players I had making the club defenseman Cody Ceci and goaltender Zachary Fucale did not even get an invite. Another in Ryan Pulock, who I had potentially as a replacement for the injured Ryan Murray did not get an invite as well.
- Team Canada did a good job in bringing in diverse players. A good blend of size and speed, defensive and offensive abilities. Since the tourney is played in Russia this year and the bigger ice surface comes into play, leaning towards a more speedy team would be a wise thing to do. At the same time, size will be important as well, and Hockey Canada has done a good job of addressing both.In my opinion, Hockey Canada cannot use the player's age as a qualifier this year. as the team's best offensive players will be the younger players, especially in the form of Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin. Sean Monahan should get a long look as well as a two-way center. All 3 of those players are 2013 NHL Draft eligible and should be top 10 picks, if not top 5.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins inclusion on the list is a massive gain for this team. The tourney figures to be a tough one for Team Canada and Nugent-Hopkins will lead the offensive charge. Team Russia and Team USA will be extremely stingy in this tourney and any piece of offensive leverage they can get is a huge piece for them.
- Malcolm Subban figures to be the starter in the net for Team Canada. Since Subban wouldn't be eligible to play in next season's tourney because at that point he will be 9 days too old, it would have been a good time to groom a younger goaltender like Zach Fucale or Eric Comrie and make them the backup. Both are more than capable. That being said I think Binnington will win the backup job, just a hunch.

As For The WHL:
- The WHL figures to be slightly under represented this season, especially with the seaon ending injury to Ryan Murray. The defense is wide open this season but thats where the WHL figures to have the most impact. Morgan Rielly is all but certain to make the club while Dumba and Reinhart have a good shot at making it.
- The forwards from the WHL is going to be thin on this club. Ty Rattie figures to be the only lock while McNeill, Shinkaruk, Lipon, and Sissons are on the bubble.
- Laurent Brossoit is 50/50 to get the backup job against Binnington. Binnington has the numbers but Brossoit has the big game experience.

All in all, a solid list for this club. Picking the club from here only gets tougher. The blend of players will be very important as this figures to be a very competitive World Junior Tourney. Very little room for error.

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