ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – The stage is set for Buffalo, N.Y., as Hockey Canada named the 22 players who will wear the red-and-white at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Following its week-long Sport Chek Selection Camp that started with 32 World Juniors hopefuls, Canada pared down its roster following its final tune-up game against Denmark on Friday at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.

Seven players who competed for Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship – Jake Bean (Calgary/Calgary, WHL), Kale Clague (Lloydminster, Alta./Brandon, WHL), Dillon Dubé (Cochrane, Alta./Kelowna, WHL), Dante Fabbro (Coquitlam, B.C./Boston University, HE), Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, Alta./Everett, WHL), Michael McLeod (Mississauga, Ont./Mississauga, OHL), and Taylor Raddysh (Caledon, Ont./Erie, OHL) - will once again proudly represent their country in the holiday classic that begins Boxing Day.

Joining them on the Canadian roster are:

• Goaltender Colton Point (North Bay, Ont./Colgate University, ECAC)
• Defencemen Cal Foote (Kelowna, B.C./Kelowna, WHL), Cale Makar (Calgary/University of Massachusetts, HE), Victor Mete (Woodbrige, Ont./Montreal, NHL), Conor Timmins (Thorold, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL); and
• Forwards Drake Batherson (New Minas, N.S./Cape Breton, QMJHL), Maxime Comtois (Longueuil, Que./Victoriaville, QMJHL), Alex Formenton (King City, Ont./London, OHL), Jonah Gadjovich (Whitby, Ont./Owen Sound OHL), Brett Howden (Oakbank, Man./Moose Jaw, WHL), Boris Katchouk (Waterloo, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Jordan Kyrou (Toronto/Sarnia, OHL), Sam Steel (Sherwood Park, Alta./Regina, WHL), Tyler Steenbergen (Sylvan Lake, Alta./Swift Current, WHL), and Robert Thomas (Aurora, Ont./London, OHL)

As Canada eyes its 16th World Juniors gold medal, its preparations continue with two pre-tournament games. On Dec. 20, Canada will face the Czech Republic in London, Ont., then on Dec. 22, the match-up features Canada taking on Switzerland in Hamilton.

The puck officially drops on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Finland at 4 p.m. ET. The Canada-U.S. cross-border rivalry takes place outdoors for the first time in tournament history on Dec. 29 at the home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y., at 3 p.m. ET.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will once again provide wall-to-wall game coverage and analysis throughout the tournament, including Canada’s two pre-tournament games on TSN; check local listings for details.

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