GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SLOVAKIA (AUG. 11)

TV: TSN | Radio: TSN Radio | Stream: TSN Direct

Coming off a big opening-game win over Latvia, Canada’s National Junior Team gets right back on the ice at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, taking on Slovakia in its second of four preliminary-round games.

LAST GAME

Canada was pushed by Latvia in its opener on Wednesday afternoon, netting three goals in the final nine minutes of the second period to turn a tie game into a three-goal lead in an eventual 5-2 win. Connor Bedard opened the scoring and added an assist, and Ridly Greig and William Dufour also chipped in with a goal and a helper. Lukas Cormier and Olen Zellweger were the other goal-scorers, both on second-period power plays. The Canadians were not short on chance, outshooting Latvia 44-24.

The Slovakians’ prelim opener against Czechia on Tuesday afternoon – a 5-4 loss – was a thriller. Slovakia came out flying, getting goals from Servac Petrovsky and Matej Kaslik before the game was six minutes old. The Czechs got the next four, but Rayen Petrovicky and Kaslik recorded power-play goals to tie the game with less than four minutes to go. The comeback was not to be, however, as a late Czech goal left Slovakia on the wrong end of the final result.

LAST MEETING

Inside the bubble at the 2021 World Juniors in Edmonton, Canada improved its record to 2-0 in Group A with a 3-1 win over the Slovakians on Dec. 27, 2020. Jordan Spence struck just four minutes in, but the Europeans held Canada – which scored 16 goals in a win over Germany a day earlier – to just 23 shots on goal. Philip Tomasino added insurance with 3:35 to go, and Jack Quinn found the empty net after Slovakia had pulled within one late.

WHAT TO WATCH

Do not give Canada an opportunity on the power play. The Canadians can roll out two high-octane groups on the man advantage, and they were key in the win over Latvia; Canada finished 2-for-3 while a man up, and the two goals – from Lukas Cormier and Olen Zellweger – turned the tide, coming five minutes apart to turn a 1-1 tie into a 3-1 lead. The scary part? As the five-man units get more game action and become more familiar with each other, they’re only going to get better.

There’s something about playing in Alberta that agrees with Simon Latkoczy. The Slovakian goaltender posted the third-best save percentage during the 2021 World Juniors (.921) and stopped 39 of 42 in a narrow loss to the U.S. before the tournament was cancelled last December. He was a hard-luck loser in his 2022 re-debut on Tuesday, finishing with 47 stops in a 5-4 loss to the Czechs. He’ll have to be good again to keep the high-powered Canadian offence in check.

A LOOK BACK

Canada and Slovakia have been frequent foes at the World Juniors, facing off 15 times since 1997, with eight of those matchups coming in the last decade. The Canadians have won 14 of those 15 meetings, the lone blemish a 0-0 tie at the 1999 tournament in Winnipeg.

Among the individual highlights? A memorable hat trick for Nic Petan in a 5-1 semifinal win in Toronto in 2015, and a three-goal effort from Taylor Hall as part of an 8-2 win at the 2010 World Juniors in Saskatoon.

All-time record: Canada leads 14-0-1
Canada goals: 75
Slovakia goals: 16

EDMONTON, Alta. – Five different skaters scored as Canada's National Junior Team kicked off the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship with a win, downing Latvia 5-2 on Wednesday.

• Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C./Regina, WHL), Ridly Greig (Lethbridge, Alta./Brandon, WHL) and William Dufour (Québec, Que./Saint John, QMJHL) led the offence with a goal and an assist each.
• Lukas Cormier (Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B./Charlottetown, QMJHL) and Olen Zellweger (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta./Everett, WHL) rounded out the scoring with power-play goals.
• Mason McTavish (Carp, Ont./Hamilton, OHL) chipped in with a pair of assists.
• Donovan Sebrango (Kingston, Ont./Grand Rapids, AHL), Joshua Roy (Saint-Georges, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Jack Thompson (Courtice, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL) and Zack Ostapchuk (St. Albert, Alta./Vancouver, WHL) contributed one assist apiece.
• Sebastian Cossa (Fort McMurray, Alta./Edmonton, WHL) made 22 saves.
• Canada outshot Latvia 44-24.

Next Game:

Canada vs. Slovakia – Thursday, Aug. 11 (4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will carry extensive game coverage and analysis throughout the World Juniors, broadcasting all 28 tournament games. TSN Radio will also provide comprehensive coverage.

Quotes:

“Latvia played a solid team game and they were committed to defence. Their goalie made some big saves and we have a lot of respect for the way they play. As a coach, you are never one hundred per cent satisfied with a game, but considering the time of year and the stage we are at in this tournament, I am happy with the way we played and glad we came away with the win.”

- Head coach Dave Cameron (Kinkora, P.E.I./Ottawa, OHL) on today’s win

“It has been three months since I have been in a real game, so it was good to get back out there and play in front of Canadian fans. [Latvia] is a good team. They really push the pace and they play smart. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game because they have a lot of good players and a lot of skill. There are no easy games in this tournament and you cannot underestimate anyone. We have to give [Latia] credit.”

- Bedard on the challenge of playing Latvia

“It was nice to get my first start under my belt, and it was great for the team to get our first win in a tough game. I have a lot of good memories playing in [Edmonton], and today’s game was just another great one to add to the books. It is a dream come true to play for Team Canada, and to be able to do it in my home arena makes it even more special.”

- Cossa on his first win and playing in his home arena

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. Although Logan Stankoven expected more from himself early in the 2021-22 season, a confidence boost set him up for his best year in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Fresh off signing an entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars last September, he returned to the WHL from the Stars’ training camp just in time to open the season with the Kamloops Blazers. However, the transition back to junior hockey was more difficult than the centre expected.

“I think it was a little bit harder to adjust the timing part and making plays with your teammates,” he says. “You go from trying to keep up to those bigger guys at camp, and then come back to junior hockey and it’s not quite as fast, so your timing’s a bit off. You just kind of want to race all over the place because that’s what you’re used to in pro hockey.”

Although it felt like a bit of a slow start to Stankoven, the Kamloops, B.C., native registered 13 goals and 32 points in his first 22 games of the season. Even still, he was shocked when he received an invite to the Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp in December.

“It was definitely a huge surprise,” he says. “I thought my first half of the season was good, but it wasn’t great [or] standout.”

Stankoven’s Blazers teammate, goaltender Dylan Garand, was also invited to the camp. As a returning member from the 2021 National Junior Team, Garand provided advice and positive encouragement to his Kamloops teammate throughout the selection process.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, Stankoven was limited to playing in only one exhibition game during the selection camp, but he certainly made the most of his opportunity.

“He played really, really good that game, and I said to him, ‘I think that’s the best game you’ve ever played, man,’” Garand says. “After he put on that performance in [that] game, I definitely wasn’t surprised he made [the team] at all.”

“I really tried to leave a good statement for myself,” Stankoven adds. “[Making the National Junior Team] was a pretty surprising moment for myself, but definitely [full of] lots of excitement and joy.”

Although he was a healthy scratch in pre-tournament play and for the tournament opener against Czechia, Stankoven scored a goal in his World Juniors debut against Austria on Dec. 28.

“That was just kind of a surreal moment because, you know, you grew up watching the World Juniors around Christmas time and getting that chance to actually play in it—it’s such a huge event,” he explains. “To be on TV and to get exposure and to play in front of family and friends that were there, it’s pretty cool.”

Unfortunately, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused the tournament to be cancelled the following day. He may have been limited to only one game, but the overall experience had a large impact on the 19-year-old.

“I think just knowing that I deserve to be on the team and getting that call, the Hockey Canada staff had confidence in me and trusted in me to be part of the team,” he explains. “It was definitely a huge confidence boost and something that I built off.”

ANOTHER Logan Stankoven hat-trick

CC. @DallasStars #RoadtoMemorialCup pic.twitter.com/F9SgwW4Oe0

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 25, 2022

That confidence instantly transferred into Stankoven’s game. Across the remainder of the regular season, he recorded 32 goals and 72 points in 37 games, finishing with nine multi-point efforts in his final 10 games (posting 24 points in that span).

He continued to excel in the postseason, scoring 17 goals and 31 points in 17 games—including four playoff hat tricks—before the Blazers were knocked out of the WHL playoffs in the semifinals by the Seattle Thunderbirds.

“As soon as he got back, he just took off and he flew for the rest of the season,” Garand says. “He was a huge part of our success. We had a really good team and we had a really good year, and he was a huge part of that, especially in the second half.”

Stankoven’s success on the ice also earned him some hardware, with the centre earning the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL player of the year as well as the David Branch Player of the Year Award in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

“It’s pretty cool to be recognized across the whole CHL, and there’s so many other great players that could have won it,” he says. “I think it just goes to show that it’s not only myself that wins the award, I think it’s my whole team because they’ve definitely helped me and I was on a winning team. So kudos to those guys as well.”

In addition, Stankoven also won the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s most sportsmanlike player award, to which he credits his parents for raising him to be respectful and a humble person.

“It doesn’t matter how good of a hockey player you are, or how good of a player you are in any sport. If you’re not a good person, you won’t go far in life,” he says. “Once my time is over here in Kamloops, I want to be remembered as a person that make a positive difference in the organization.”

“He just leads by example, you know, shows up, does the right things, works hard every day,” Garand says of Stankoven. “I think guys really look up to him for that.”

After he scored 45 goals, and tallied 104 points in just 59 games, Logan Stankoven wins the David Branch Player of the Year Award presented by @KiaCanada! pic.twitter.com/OUCtG1XjQ7

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) June 28, 2022

With the rescheduling of a summertime 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Stankoven, Garand and their teammates have another opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf on an international stage.

“A lot of us took it pretty hard once everything was shut down and it was all kind of up in the air whether or not we’re going to be able to replay the tournament,” Stankoven says. “So it’s nice that everything’s starting from scratch and we have another chance to hopefully take home a gold medal.”

“For me especially, there were only three of us that were returning in December, and we still had a tough taste in our mouth from winning silver [in 2021],” Garand adds. “It’s our last opportunity and there’s nothing more than I want to win a gold medal this time.”

Looking towards next season, things are a little up in the air for Stankoven. He had a strong development camp with the Stars last month and was named the camp’s most outstanding player. He could also end up back home in Kamloops to prepare for the Memorial Cup, which will be hosted by the Blazers for the first time since 1995.

“I think it’s just kind of a win-win situation no matter what, whether I’m in Dallas or I come back to Kamloops, being able to host a Memorial Cup in front of my hometown, and I’m sure we’re going to get some great crowds to come out and watch us” he says. “Being in Dallas would be really ideal, but I know that it’s going to take a lot of work.”

For now, Stankoven’s eyes are on World Juniors gold, and he’s ready to ride the momentum he’s gained from the end of the 2021-22 season into Edmonton.

“He’s really just found his game, he knows what works for him and obviously it’s brought him a lot of success,” Garand says. “Knowing him, I know he’s going to bring that to our team here in August. I think he’s going to play a much more prominent role than he did at Christmas time, and he’s definitely going to be a big part of us on our journey to a gold medal.”

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. LATVIA (AUG. 10)

TV: TSN | Radio: TSN Radio | Stream: TSN Direct

Let the games begin in Edmonton! Canada’s National Junior Team opens preliminary-round play at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship against Latvia, getting Group A action started with just the third meeting ever between the countries.

LAST GAME

The Canadians looked good early in their 4-3 pre-tournament win over Sweden on Monday night, getting goals 34 seconds apart from Nathan Gaucher and Mason McTavish midway through the first period and a power-play marker from Kent Johnson before the end of the opening frame for a 3-0 lead. Joshua Roy made it 4-1 early in the third before the Swedes made things interesting. Dylan Garand got the start between the pipes for Canada, stopping all 15 shots he faced before Sebastian Cossa turned aside eight of 11.

Latvia opened its Group A schedule on Tuesday afternoon, falling 6-1 to Finland. Bruno Bruveris was the standout between the pipes for the Baltic nation, finishing with 33 saves. Klavs Weinbergs provided the lone goal for the Latvians, converting on a power play early in the third period.

LAST MEETING

It has been almost six years since Canada and Latvia met at the World Juniors. Taylor Raddysh was the offensive star on Dec. 29, 2016, registering just the fourth four-goal game by a Canadian and adding an assist for good measure in a 10-2 win. Dylan Strome recorded four assists, Kale Clague had three and Mathew Barzal scored twice for Canada, which netted its 10 goals on just 35 shots.

WHAT TO WATCH

How about the season Kent Johnson had in 2021-22? The 19-year-old played in the IIHF World Junior Championship, the Olympic Winter Games, the IIHF World Championship and the NCAA Frozen Four, and made his NHL debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets. And all of that happened between December and May. So the product of Port Moody, B.C. – an alternate captain with Team Canada – is going to leaned upon for his experience … and his offence. Johnson had 37 points in 32 games with a star-studded University of Michigan team.

Latvia is back at the World Juniors for the first time since 2017, and its roster includes a number of players who are no stranger to North American hockey. Five ply their trade in the USHL, another five have CHL experience (three in the QMJHL, one in the OHL and one in the WHL) and three are enrolled at U.S. colleges. So there won’t be a fear factor when it comes to playing the physical brand of hockey Canadian entries are typically known for at the tournament.

A LOOK BACK

Other than the game mentioned above from the 2017 World Juniors, Canada and Latvia have only met one other time.

That game, a Boxing Day matchup at the 2010 tournament in Saskatchewan, featured plenty of offence from the Canadians. Gabriel Bourque tied the single-game record with seven points (3-4—7) and Jordan Eberle, Brandon Kozun, Patrice Cormier, Nazem Kadri and Luke Adam each scored a pair of goals in a 16-0 win.

All-time record: Canada leads 2-0-0
Canada goals: 26
Latvia goals: 2

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWEDEN (AUG. 8)

We’re back! Just over seven months after COVID-19 shut down the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, Canada’s National Junior Team returns to the ice in Edmonton for its lone exhibition matchup ahead of the rescheduled World Juniors, taking on Sweden.

LAST GAME

Oh, what a night it was. All the way back on Dec. 28, one day before the tournament was cancelled, Canada eased past Austria 11-2 on the back of a historic four-goal effort from Connor Bedard. The Canadians spread around the scoring, getting goals from seven different players and points from 16 (including all 12 forwards). In addition to Bedard’s performance, Canada got two goals and an assist from Mason McTavish, and a goal and two helpers from Cole Perfetti as it outshot the Austrians 64-22.

The Swedes last saw the ice on Dec. 27, getting a goal in each period – from Theodor Niederbach, Albert Sjoberg and Daniel Ljungman – to back a tremendous 48-save effort from Jesper Wallstedt in a 3-0 win over Slovakia. Wallstedt made 13 saves in the first period, 17 in the second and 18 in the third to help the Swedes improve to 2-0 in Red Deer.

LAST MEETING

You’ve got to go back to the gold medal game in Buffalo to find the last time the Canadians and Swedes faced off at the World Juniors. In that one, Dillon Dubé and Tim Soderlund traded second-period goals, and overtime loomed before Tyler Steenbergen redirected in a feed from Conor Timmins with 1:40 left, becoming the 13th and final Canadian forward to score a goal. An empty-netter from Alex Formenton sealed a 3-1 win and a 17th World Juniors gold for Canada.

WHAT TO WATCH

Will there be any rust for the Canadians? Even the least-rested player – William Dufour last played June 29 when his Saint John Sea Dogs won the Memorial Cup – has been off for 40 days. Bedard has had the longest layoff; he last played a competitive game at the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship on April 28, 102 days ago. But that’s what pre-tournament is all about, right? The exhibition contest will be a perfect chance for the Canadians – and the Swedes – to get their legs under them before preliminary-round play starts tomorrow.

The Swedish roster is stacked with first-round talent; towering blue-liner Simon Edvinsson (6th overall, Detroit, 2021) leads the way on the back end and Wallstedt (20th, Minnesota, 2021) will carry the load in goal, while the forward group includes Isak Rosen (14th, Buffalo, 2021), Jonathan Lekkerimäki (15th, Vancouver, 2022), Liam Öhgren (19th, Minnesota, 2022), Fabian Lysell (21st, Boston, 2021) and Oskar Olausson (28th, Colorado, 2021).

A LOOK BACK

This one won’t count towards the all-time records, but there have been 32 that have since 1977. The Canadians have won 22 of those, including four in the gold medal game (1996, 2008, 2009, 2018).

Only one Canadian has scored a hat trick against the Swedes at the World Juniors – Wayne Babych did it on New Year’s Day 1978 in Montreal, with all three coming off setups from 16-year-old Wayne Gretzky in a 6-5 loss.

All-time record: Canada leads 22-9-1 (2-1 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 139
Sweden goals: 88

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the addition of defenceman Ethan Del Mastro (Freelton, Ont./Mississauga, OHL) to its 25-player roster for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, Aug. 9-20 in Edmonton, Alta.

Del Mastro recently completed his third season with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he served as captain and registered 48 points (seven goals, 41 assists) in 68 regular-season games. Internationally, he suited up for Team Canada Black at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and won a gold medal with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Hockey Canada also announced that Daemon Hunt (Brandon, Man./Moose Jaw, WHL) is unable to participate due to injury.

Canada is on the ice tomorrow for its lone pre-tournament game, taking on Sweden at 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET. It kicks off its tournament against Latvia at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET on Aug. 10. Canada will also play Slovakia on Aug. 11, Czechia on Aug. 13 and Finland on Aug. 15 to wrap up preliminary-round action. All Team Canada games will be played at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast by TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has unveiled the 25 players who will wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, Aug. 9-20 in Edmonton, Alta.

Three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards were 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 hockey operations. 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.

Among the 25 players is one player who won a silver medal at the 2021 World Juniors - Dylan Garand (Victoria, B.C./Kamloops, WHL).

“We are excited to unveil the 25 players who will represent Canada at the World Juniors, as we believe we have assembled a team that will give us the best chance to win a gold medal on home ice,” said Millar. “We know this group of players and staff will represent our country with pride and embrace the opportunity to compete in a unique summer event in Edmonton.”

The support staff that will return to Canada’s National Junior Team for the August 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship includes:

• Video coach Elliott Mondou (Grand-Mère, Que.)
• Athletic therapists Kevin Elliott (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) and Mike Burnstein (Hamilton, Ont./Vancouver, WHL)
• Team physician Dr. Barry Wiens (Red Deer, Alta./Red Deer, WHL)
• Equipment managers Brian St-Louis (Hull, Que./Baie-Comeau, QMJHL) and Chris Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont./Ottawa, OHL)
• Strength and conditioning coach Sean Young (Ennismore, Ont./Ottawa, OHL)
• Manager of hockey operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.)
• Coordinator of hockey operations Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, Man.)
• Security liaison Bob Martin (London, Ont./London, OHL)
• Media relations manager Spencer Sharkey (Hamilton, Ont.)

Canada’s National Junior Team will gather in Calgary for a training camp at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on the Tsuut’ina Nation, Aug. 2-7, before travelling to Edmonton. Media wishing to attend training camp must apply for accreditation HERE.

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Aug. 9 with a trio of games before Canada kicks off its tournament against Latvia at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET on Aug. 10. In addition to its tournament-opening match-up, Canada will also play Slovakia on Aug. 11, Czechia on Aug. 13 and Finland on Aug. 15 to wrap up preliminary-round action. All Team Canada games will be played at 4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will carry extensive game coverage and analysis throughout the World Juniors, broadcasting all 28 tournament games. TSN Radio will also provide comprehensive coverage.

For more information from the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit the official tournament website at 2022.worldjuniors.hockey.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

From Shane Wright to Dyllan Gill, the 2022 NHL Draft was all about Canadian hockey.

In total, more than one-third of the players who had their names called in Montreal – 90 of 225 – hail from the true north strong and free.

Those players include representation from 11 Members, and 28 who have worn the Maple Leaf in international competition – including four gold medallists from the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship.

The red-and-white run started early, with Shane Wright going No. 4 to the Seattle Kraken. The Burlington, Ont., native captained Canada Black at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the gold medal-winning U18 team in 2021, and played for Canada’s National Junior Team at the cancelled 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship last winter.

Put that jersey on, Shane! @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/iumkvkTZdB

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) July 8, 2022

Wright was the first of nine Canadians selected in the first round, including three from Manitoba – Conor Geekie (No. 11 to Arizona), Denton Mateychuk (No. 12 to Columbus) and Owen Pickering (No. 21 to Pittsburgh).

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) was well represented among the Canadian contingent; 71 of the 90 players selected – including all nine of the first-round picks – were products of CHL programs, from 36 different teams. The Ontario Hockey League led the way with 29 picks, followed by the Western Hockey League with 27 and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 15.

The North Bay Battalion (Arnsby, DiVincentiis, Jackson, Mathurin, Nelson) and Swift Current Broncos (Davies, Dyck, Filmon, Hvidston, Pickering) paced all club teams with five players selected, while the Guelph Storm (Buchinger, Karabela, Poitras, Zhilkin), Kamloops Blazers (Kuefler, Lindgren, Minten, Seminoff) and Seattle Thunderbirds (Davidson, Gustafson, Korchinski, Schaefer) had four apiece.

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY MEMBER

Ontario Hockey Federation (30) – Liam Arnsby, Owen Beck, Michael Buchinger, Nolan Collins, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Domenic DiVincentiis, Lucas Edmonds, Jackson Edward, George Fegaras, Isaiah George, David Gucciardi, Hunter Haight, Stephen Halliday, Jake Karabela, Christian Kyrou, Amadeus Lombardi, Paul Ludwinski, Matthew Maggio, Tnias Mathurin, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Owen Mehlenbacher, Nick Moldenhauer, Matthew Morden, Ty Nelson, Cole O’Hara, Matthew Poitras, Tucker Robertson, Jack Sparkes, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

BC Hockey (12) – Mason Beaupit, Parker Bell, Tyson Dyck, Tyson Jugnauth, Ben King, Mats Lindgren, Brandon Lisowsky, Michael Milne, Fraser Minten, Matthew Seminoff, Graham Sward, Abram Wiebe

Hockey Alberta (12) – Emmett Croteau, Jared Davidson, Josh Davies, Jagger Firkus, Jordan Gustafson, Ben Hemmerling, Dylan James, Daylan Kuefler, Rieger Lorenz, Matthew Savoie, Reid Schaefer, Ty Young

Hockey Quebec (11) – Angus Booth, Frédéric Brunet, Jordan Dumais, Nathan Gaucher, Alexis Gendron, Patrick Guay, Maveric Lamoureux, Jérémy Langlois, Tristan Luneau, Miguël Tourigny, Noah Warren

Hockey Manitoba (8) – Tyler Brennan, Reid Dyck, Josh Filmon, Conor Geekie, Ryan Hofer, Adam Ingram, Denton Mateychuk, Owen Pickering

Hockey Eastern Ontario (7) – Jorian Donovan, David Goyette, Cedrick Guindon, Kyle Jackson, Kaleb Lawrence, Gavin White, Cameron Whitehead

Hockey New Brunswick (4) – Eli Barnett, Marc-Andre Gaudet, Dyllan Gill, Samuel Savoie

Hockey Nova Scotia (2) – Jake Furlong, Landon Sim

Hockey Saskatchewan (2) – Connor Hvidston, Kevin Korchinski

Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador (1) – Ryan Greene

Hockey Northwestern Ontario (1) – Daimon Gardner

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE EXPERIENCE

2022 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Nolan Collins, Josh Davies, Reid Dyck, Josh Filmon, David Goyette, Connor Hvidston, Rieger Lorenz, Nick Moldenhauer, Matthew Morden, Owen Pickering

2022 National Junior Team
Shane Wright

2021 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Tyler Brennan, Denton Mateychuk, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

2020 Youth Olympic Games
Cedrick Guindon, Mats Lindgren, Paul Ludwinski, Tristan Luneau, Denton Mateychuk, Ty Nelson, Matthew Savoie, Noah Warren

2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Black: Jérémy Langlois, Kaleb Lawrence, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

Red: Nathan Gaucher

White: Liam Arnsby, Tyler Brennan, Matthew Savoie, Graham Sward

2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Red: Stephan Halliday, Matthew Maggio

Kevin Korchinski always believed he had the offensive skill to make a difference on the ice. The defenceman elevated his play this season, leading all Western Hockey League (WHL) rookie blue-liners in points (65) and positioning himself as the highest-ranked Canadian defenceman heading into 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal.

With his strong puck-moving abilities and two-way play, the No. 7-rated North American skater hopes his hard work pays off when he hears his name called.

“Knowing that I have the opportunity to get drafted and having gone through the process, my goal is to play in the NHL,” says Korchinski. “Anything can happen, but I’ve been able to enjoy the process this whole year and I’m looking forward to it.”

🎥 ICYMI: we heard from Seattle's Kevin Korchinski in our Road To The Draft Player Profile series!@SeattleTbirds | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/EpGgan2bGK

— The WHL (@TheWHL) July 7, 2022

Throughout his burgeoning hockey career, Korchinski has showcased his abilities to be an offensive presence on the ice. During the 2018-19 season, he led the Saskatoon Generals (U15 AA) in assists (37), led Generals defencemen in scoring and finished third on the team.

Korchinski’s performance led the Saskatoon defenceman to be selected 10th overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. After getting a taste of the WHL during the 2020-21 season, when he registered 10 assists in 23 games during the pandemic-shortened campaign, Korchinski took the summer to work on his strength and skating, and it paid off.

“Playing that offensive role early on in my career really molded my game to what it is now,” says Korchinski. “My confidence in my abilities and skill, I’ve always been that type of player. I knew I’ve always had it in me to play that game.”

He also earned the trust of the Thunderbirds’ coaching staff, getting the opportunity to run the point on the power play. His 28 assists with the man advantage ranked fifth in the WHL, and Seattle finished with the ninth-best power play in the league.

“Being a year older, I also got to play a bigger role,” Korchinski says. “My relationship with all three of the coaches in Seattle are awesome. They trust me in all situations and that trust really helps me as a hockey player and instilled confidence in my abilities. On the power play, I made use of that time, making sure I was ready so that when the opportunity came, I’d be ready to seize it.”

In the lead-up to the draft, the 17-year-old has been enjoying the process. Korchinski is happy his offensive talents are being noticed on the ice, but also hopes to gain more confidence in his shot heading into next season, adding to his vision to set up his teammates on the ice.

He describes himself as a competitor, wants to contribute to the team’s success – the Thunderbirds reached the WHL final this season, falling in six games to the Edmonton Oil Kings – and hopes to continue to take that next step forward in his career.

“The team that’s drafting me will be getting a hard worker,” Korchinski says. “On the ice, I’m a defenceman that loves to join in on the rush and fuel the transition game. I’ve always valued hard work, valued commitment in whatever I do, and I’ve always been able to take it over the top with my competitiveness.”

With the junior season in the books, pre-draft interviews completed and his ticket booked for Montreal, Korchinski is ready to soak up the experience of the NHL Draft and see where the next step of his career takes him.

“The draft is just the start of that and it’s a huge honour to hear my name called.”

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has invited 88 players to participate in Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp and Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp, set to take place this July at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

As part of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp, 44 players – four goaltenders, 14 defencemen and 26 forwards – will compete for an opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alta. The selection camp, which takes place July 20-23, will include a variety of on- and off-ice sessions. Following the selection of the final roster on July 24, Team Canada will play a pair of games against Red and White teams from Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp.

Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.) , Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel, led the player selection process with assistance from Tyler Dietrich (Vancouver, B.C.), senior manager of hockey operations, and Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), manager of hockey operations and U17 head scout.

The player selection process also included Peter Anholt (Prince Albert, Sask./Lethbridge, WHL) and James Boyd (Mississauga, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) of the Program of Excellence management group, and the Canadian Hockey League general managers committee, made up of Pierre Cloutier (Rouyn-Noranda, Que./Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL), Kirt Hill (Winnipeg, Man./Edmonton, WHL), Jim Hulton (Wolfe Island, Ont./Charlottetown, QMJHL), John Paddock (Oak River, Man./Regina, WHL), Barclay Parneta (Saskatoon, Sask./Vancouver, WHL), Cam Russell (Halifax, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL) and Steve Staios (Hamilton, Ont./Hamilton, OHL).

“We are excited to bring together a group of 44 athletes with a solid foundation of junior and international experience for selection camp,” said Millar. “As our players are preparing to compete in short-term competition, we know all 44 players will come to camp ready to compete for a spot on the team and the opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf in international competition.”

44 players – four goaltenders, 14 defenceman and 26 forwards – will also be on the ice in Calgary for Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp, set for July 23-27.

The camp roster features 26 players that have been selected in the NHL Draft, including eight first-round picks: Nolan Allan (CHI), Brandt Clarke (LAK), Corson Ceulemans (CBJ), Zach Dean (VGK), Wyatt Johnston (DAL), Zachary L’Heureux (NSH), Brennan Othmann (NYR) and Chase Stillman (NJD).

“This is an exciting first step as we begin preparations for the upcoming season and the opportunity to compete at the 2023 World Juniors on home ice in Halifax and Moncton this December,” Millar added. “We are excited about this group of players, and we look forward to returning to the ice for a highly-competitive camp to kick off a new season.”

Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp staff will feature six experienced coaches from across the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), including Shaun Clouston (Viking, Alta./Kamloops, WHL), Steve Hartley (Hawkesbury, Ont./Drummondville, QMJHL) , Jim Hulton (Kingston, Ont./Charlottetown, QMJHL), Brent Kisio (Calgary, Alta./Lethbridge, WHL), Brad Lauer (Humboldt, Sask./Edmonton, WHL) and Ryan Oulahen (Newmarket, Ont./North Bay, OHL).

Clouston recently completed his third season as head coach of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, guiding the Blazers to a 48-17-3-0 record, good for top spot in the B.C Division. He was an assistant coach for Canada at back-to-back Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournaments in 2014 and 2015, and was behind the Canadian bench as head coach at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Hartley has served as head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for four seasons (2019-22) after serving two seasons (2017-18) as an assistant. Hartley was a camp coach at Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team summer development camp last year. He also served as an assistant coach with Team Canada Black at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Hulton just completed his sixth season as head coach and general manager of the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders, guiding the franchise to its first-ever championship series appearance following a club-record 48-win season. Hulton was an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and won silver and gold as an assistant coach at the 2004 and 2005 IIHF World Junior Championships, respectively.

Kisio recently finished his seventh season as head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He most recently served as assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. Kisio previously coached Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, winning a gold medal, and has twice served on the coaching staff at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a silver medal with Team Pacific in 2014.

Lauer is in his fourth season as head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL), guiding the team to a WHL championship following a 50-win season. The recipient of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL coach of the year in 2019-20, Lauer made his debut with the Program of Excellence last summer, serving as a camp coach at Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team summer development camp.

Oulahen just completed his second full season as head coach of the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after being named interim head coach during the 2019-20 campaign. He spent just over two seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Flint Firebirds (2017-18) following six seasons as an assistant coach with Battalion. Oulahen won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, was head coach of Team Canada White at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and twice served as an assistant, with Team Canada Red in 2014 and Team Canada Black in 2015.

Hockey Canada announced in May that the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B., Dec. 26, 2022 to Jan. 5, 2023.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.