Get to know the players who will represent Canada at the 2019 World Juniors

Dec 16 2018, 7:02 am


The 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship is almost here and Team Canada’s roster is set.

Head coach Tim Hunter finalized his 22-man roster on Tuesday after forward Gabriel Vilardi was ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Vilardi is the second player Canada has lost due to injury, with Alex Formenton suffering an injury during Selection Camp last week.

Canada’s roster includes 10 NHL first round picks, as well as one 17-year-old prospect not eligible to be drafted until 2020.

The tournament begins on Boxing Day in Vancouver and Victoria, with pre-tournament games kicking off this week in nine different arenas in British Columbia. Team Canada plays exhibition games against Switzerland and Slovakia in Victoria this week, before their final tune-up contest against Finland Sunday in Vancouver.

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Let’s meet the team.

Goaltenders

Michael DiPietro (Ottawa, OHL)

A winner of the Memorial Cup in 2017 and OHL Goaltender of the Year in 2018, Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro has been groomed for the starter’s job at this tournament.

NHL team: Vancouver Canucks (2017 third round pick, 64th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Amherstburg, ON
Size: 6-foot-0, 205 pounds
2018-19 stats: 22 GP, 12-8-1, 2.26 GAA, .922 SV%

Ian Scott (Prince Albert, WHL)

Having just signed an entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ian Scott has made a case to be Canada’s starting goalie based off the spectacular season he’s having with Prince Albert.

NHL team: Toronto Maple Leafs (2017 fourth-round pick, 110th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Size: 6-foot-3, 183 pounds
2018-19 stats: 26 GP, 23-2-1, 1.61 GAA, .943 SV%

Defencemen

Evan Bouchard (London, OHL)

Evan Bouchard played seven games with the Edmonton Oilers this season before being sent back to junior. His teammates call is booming slap shot the “Bouch Bomb.”

NHL team: Edmonton Oilers (2018 first round pick, 10th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Oakville, ON
Size: 6-foot-2, 198 pounds
2018-19 stats: 13 GP, 5 G, 13 A, 18 PTS

Josh Brook (Moose Jaw, WHL)

Smooth-skating Canadiens prospect Josh Brook is scoring at more than a point-a-game pace in the WHL this season.

NHL team: Montreal Canadiens (2017 2nd round pick, 56th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Roblin, MB
Size: 6-foot-1, 192 pounds
2018-19 stats: 25 GP, 9 G, 24 A, 33 PTS

Noah Dobson (Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL)

A Memorial Cup champ with Acadie-Bathurst last spring, towering 6-foot-3 defenceman Noah Dobson should play a key role on Canada’s blue line.

NHL team: New York Islanders (2018 first round pick, 12th overall)
Age: 18
Hometown: Summerside, PEI
Size: 6-foot-3, 185 pounds
2018-19 stats: 28 GP, 9 G, 7 A, 16 PTS

Jared McIsaac (Halifax, QMJHL)

One of two Nova Scotians on the team, Jared McIsaac is a smooth-skating defenceman that acquits himself well at both ends of the rink.

NHL team: Detroit Red Wings (2018 second round pick, 36th overall)
Age: 18
Hometown: Truro, NS
Size: 6-foot-1, 191 pounds
2018-19 stats: 23 GP, 7 G, 15 A, 22 PTS

Ian Mitchell (University of Denver, NCAA)

The lone college defenceman on the roster, right-shooting Ian Mitchell has 41 points in 55 games with the University of Denver over the past two seasons.

NHL team: Chicago Blackhawks (2017 second round pick, 57th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Calahoo, AB
Size: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds
2018-19 stats: 14 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 PTS

Markus Phillips (Owen Sound, OHL)

Mobile defenceman Markus Phillips has boosted his stock since being drafted in the fourth round by the LA Kings in 2017.

NHL team: Los Angeles Kings (2017 fourth-round pick, 118th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Size: 6-foot-0, 194 pounds
2018-19 stats: 30 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 PTS

Ty Smith (Spokane, WHL)

The highest-scoring defenceman on the roster, Ty Smith is also the youngest player on the blue line.

NHL team: New Jersey Devils (2018 first round pick, 17th overall)
Age: 18
Hometown: Lloydminster, AB
Size: 5-foot-11, 177 pounds
2018-19 stats: 28 GP, 3 G, 36 A, 39 PTS

Forwards

Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Spokane, WHL)

A second-round draft pick in 2017, Jaret Anderson-Dolan had a quick rise to the NHL, appearing in five games with the Los Angeles Kings this season. He’s only played two WHL games due to injury and missed the entire Team Canada Selection Camp in Victoria.

NHL team: Los Angeles Kings (2017 second round pick, 41st overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Size: 5-foot-11, 195 pounds
2018-19 stats: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 2 PTS

Shane Bowers (Boston University, NCAA)

A first-round pick by the Ottawa Senators, Boston University centre Shane Bowers was traded to the Colorado Avalanche last season in the Matt Duchene deal.

NHL team: Colorado Avalanche (2017 first round pick, 28th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Herring Cove, NS
Size: 6-foot-2, 188 pounds
2018-19 stats: 15 GP, 5 G, 3 A, 8 PTS

Maxime Comtois (Drummondville, QMJHL)

Maxime Comtois is the only returning player from Canada’s gold medal winning team last year after Alex Formenton suffered an injury during Selection Camp. He’s already had success at the NHL level, scoring seven points in 10 games with the Anaheim Ducks this season before returning to junior.

NHL team: Anaheim Ducks (2017 2nd round pick, 50th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Longueuil, QC
Size: 6-foot-2, 211 pounds
2018-19 stats: 5 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 PTS

MacKenzie Entwistle (Hamilton, OHL)

An Arizona draft pick, Mackenzie Entwistle was traded to Chicago as part of a seven-player deal last summer.

NHL team: Chicago Blackhawks (2017 third round pick, 69th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Georgetown, ON
Size: 6-foot-3, 181 pounds
2018-19 stats: 29 GP, 15 G, 12 A, 27 PTS

Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)

The son of former Toronto Maple Leafs PA announcer Andy Frost, Sault Ste. Marie centre Morgan Frost is among the OHL scoring leaders this season with 58 points in 32 games.

NHL team: Philadelphia Flyers (2017 first round pick, 27th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Aurora, ON
Size: 6-foot-0, 185 pounds
2018-19 stats: 32 GP, 20 G, 38 A, 58 PTS

Cody Glass (Portland, WHL)

The player the Vancouver Canucks passed on to take Elias Pettersson in the 2017 draft, playmaking centre Cody Glass is one of the top scorers in the WHL this season.

NHL team: Vegas Golden Knights (2017 first round pick, 6th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Size: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
2018-19 stats: 26 GP, 12 G, 42 A, 54 PTS

Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)

A surprise pick by the Arizona Coyotes with the fifth overall pick in June, Barrett Hayton is a smart two-way centre.

NHL team: Arizona Coyotes (2018 first round pick, 5th overall)
Age: 18
Hometown: Peterborough, ON
Size: 6-foot-1, 191 pounds
2018-19 stats: 20 GP, 15 G, 18 A, 33 PTS

Alexis Lafrenière (Rimouski, QMJHL)

The youngest player on Team Canada, 17-year-old centre Alexis Lafreniere is ripping it up in the QMJHL this season, but isn’t eligible for the NHL Draft until 2020.

NHL team: N/A (draft eligible in 2020)
Age: 17
Hometown: Saint-Eustache, QC
Size: 6-foot-1, 192 pounds
2018-19 stats: 31 GP, 17 G, 37 A, 54 PTS

Brett Leason (Prince Albert, WHL)

Overlooked in the NHL draft twice, 19-year-old Brett Leason wasn’t invited by Team Canada to the World Junior Summer Showcase. The 6-foot-4 centre couldn’t be ignored after scoring an eye-popping 64 points in 31 games this season though, and will be taken by an NHL team at the draft in June.

NHL team: N/A (draft eligible in 2019)
Age: 19
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Size: 6-foot-4, 199 pounds
2018-19 stats: 31 GP, 28 G, 36 A, 64 PTS

Jack Studnicka (Oshawa, OHL)

A fleet-of-foot forward, Oshawa Generals captain Jack Studnicka was a Bruins draft pick Boston acquired as compensation from the Edmonton Oilers for GM Peter Chiarelli.

NHL team: Boston Bruins (2017 second round pick, 57th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Tecumseh, ON
Size: 6-foot-2, 179 pounds
2018-19 stats: 29 GP, 12 G, 21 A, 33 PTS

Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound, OHL)

Drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights and traded to the Montreal Canadiens as part of the Max Pacioretty deal, Nick Suzuki finished top-five in OHL points in each of the last two seasons.

NHL team: Montreal Canadiens (2017 first round pick, 13th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: London, ON
Size: 5-foot-11, 183 pounds
2018-19 stats: 28 GP, 20 G, 23 A, 43 PTS

Owen Tippett (Mississauga, OHL)

No relation to longtime NHL coach Dave Tippett, goal-scoring winger Owen Tippett made the news recently for an unusual reason. He was suspended five games for flipping a foam puck into the stands, despite the fact it was a harmless act.

NHL team: Florida Panthers (2017 first round pick, 10th overall)
Age: 19
Hometown: Peterborough, ON
Size: 6-foot-2, 204 pounds
2018-19 stats: 23 GP, 19 G, 14 A, 33 PTS

Joe Veleno (Drummondville, QMJHL)

A speedy two-way forward, Joe Veleno is one of the top scorers in the QMJHL this year.

NHL team: Detroit Red Wings (2018 first round pick, 30th overall)
Age: 18
Hometown: Montreal, QC
Size: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds
2018-19 stats: 28 GP, 22 G, 32 A, 54 PTS

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