This years Team Canada roster for the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship is made up of some of the best junior players from across the nation. They play in all 3 Canadian junior leagues and a couple are even on loan from their NHL clubs. There are 7 returning players who were on last years WJHC roster who have a chance to redeem themselves after missing the medals last year.
There are 2 players on this years roster who have yet to be drafted and are projected to go number one (McDavid), and within the top 10 (Crouse). This tournament will be a showcase for those players who are eligible for the upcoming 2015 NHL Entry Draft and for those that are already drafted it will be a show of their talents for their respective teams.
This years team has depth at all positions and should be one of the better teams that Team Canada has put on the ice for this tournament in the last couple of years. There are many players who are team leaders and the "C" for this years team is Curtis Lazar who is on loan from the NHL's Ottawa Senators. In recent interviews Lazar had said that this team is all about coming together as a group and playing for each other. He mentioned that he wanted unity within the dressing room and on the ice as well.
After hearing this, and seeing the way Lazar helped the Edmonton Oil Kings last season, it should be no surprise to see this team get stronger as the tournament goes on.
This team is comprised of loads of talent so I just wanted to touch on each player and what team they come from and some of their strengths that they bring.
Starting with the goaltenders:
Zach Fucale - A 19 y/o 6'1", 181 lb tender who is a quick and confident player. He is a returning player from last seasons team. He plays for the Quebec Ramparts of the QMJHL and is a draft pick of Montreal in 2013.
Eric Comrie - A 19 y/o player who stands at 6'1" and weighs a light 168 lbs. He plays bigger than he is and has very good positioning. Currently plays for Tri-City of the WHL and was a draft pick of Winnipeg in 2013.
There is always going to be the battle and question of who will be the starting goaltender for the team during this tournament, but really, either of these players has the chance to be the top guy. They are both good at what they do and I think that the coaching staff should have no problems by choosing either player when it comes to who starts.
Now we move onto the Defensemen.
Madison Bowey - A 19 y/o who is 6'1" and weighs 195 lbs. He is a physical player who skates pretty well and is capable of rushing the puck up the ice. Watch for him to make good first passes and play the body when he can. Currently plays for Kelowna of the WHL and was a draft pick of Washington in 2013.
Dillon Heatherington - A 19 y/o player who is 6'3" and weighs 196 lbs. He is a stay at home defensive defenseman who also likes to play the body when he can. He is good on special teams, especially the penalty kill. Watch for him to help out his goalies by clearing the crease area for them.
Currently playing for Swift Current of the WHL and was drafted by Columbus in 2013.
Joe Hicketts - An 18 y/o player who is 5'8" and weighs in at 186 lbs. He is a smaller defenseman who has good speed and likes to carry the puck on the rush. Watch for him to get his shot off when he gets the chance, it's hard and accurate. Currently playing for Victoria in the WHL and was signed by Detroit as a UFA.
Sam Morin - A 19 y/o player who stands at a whopping 6'7" and weighs 224 lbs. This massive young player is another defensive defenseman who can log massive minutes during a game. Can be an intimidating player to try and match up against in the crease area. Should be one of the highest average ice time players per game through the tournament. Currently plays with Rimouski of the QMJHL and was a draft pick of Philadelphia in 2013.
Josh Morrissey - This 19 y/o player who stands at 6' even and weighs 194 lbs and is coming into his second year at the WJHC. He is a solid two way player who does well at both ends of the ice. He is a solid blue liner to have in the line up and should add depth to the position. He currently plays for Kelowna of the WHL and was drafted by Winnipeg in 2013.
Darnell Nurse - A 19 y/o player who is 6'4" tall and weighs 189 lbs. He can be the shut down defenseman that the team needs in the closing minutes of a game. He also isn't afraid to jump up and help out offensively if the play dictates it. Watch for him to use his strength and dish off a good first pass when he is out there. Currently playing for Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL and was drafted by Edmonton in 2013.
Shea Theodore - a 19 y/o player who is 6'2" and weighs 182 lbs. He is an offensive defenseman who likes to rush the puck when he can but knows when he should just stay at the point. Watch for him to make smart plays and move the play down the ice when he gets the chance. Currently playing for Seattle in the WHL and was drafted by Anaheim in 2013.
The defense group that has been assembled for this tournament is a mix of offensive and defensive players. If all of them can come together through this tournament watch for them be able to shut down the opponents rush around the blue line and then move the puck quickly down the ice causing grief for the opposition. Opponents also have to be aware that the defense isn't afraid to jump into the rush to out number them. When they do this it may result in odd man rushes in the wrong direction. So watch for their speed to help counter this issue.
Last but not least the forwards for the team:
Lawson Crouse - A 17 y/o player who stands at a tall 6'4" and weighing in at 211 lbs. A large younger player who can use his size to his advantage when he wants. He should do this more often than he does, but still seems unsure of himself sometimes. He is a good two way player who comes back to help out the defense on the back check. Should get some good experience this year and come back next year even better. Currently playing for Kingston of the OHL and is draft eligible for the 2015 NHL draft.
Max Domi - A 19 y/o player who is a shorter 5'9" and weighs 194 lbs. Built like his father, Max is a powerful stocky player who has hands and playmaking skills that will aide his teammates. Able to stickhandle in tight spots watch for him to be in the top 5 on the team in points. Currently playing for London of the OHL he was drafted by Arizona in 2013.
Anthony Duclair - A 19 y/o player who is 5'11" and weighs in at 184 lbs. He is a speedy winger who is hard to keep pinned down. Likes to shoot the puck when given the chance and has an accurate shot. Currently on loan from the New York Rangers of the NHL. Drafted in 2013 by the Rangers.
Robby Fabbri - An 18 y/o player who is 5'10" and weighs 170 lbs. He is smaller and lighter than some in this forward group. He has the ability to be a top offensive player on this team and has very good hockey IQ. Watch for the play (more often than not) to be in the offensive zone when he is on the ice. Currently playing for Guelph of the OHL and was drafted by St. Louis in 2014.
Frederik Gauthier - Another 19 y/o player who stands 6'4" and weighs 215 lbs. This is his second crack at this tournament where he can be a strong face off man for this team. He is a large forward player who knows how to create space for himself around the net and in the offensive zone. Watch for him to be taking important draws later in games. He currently plays for Rimouski of the QMJHL and was drafted by Toronto in 2013.
Curtis Lazar - A 19 y/o player who is 6' and 198 lbs and is another returning player to this roster. He has a very high skill set and should be a top offensive threat when on the ice. He has a strong well rounded game that is noticeable at both ends of the rink which should allow for quick transitions from the defensive zone to the offensive zone when he is on the ice. Currently he is on loan from the Ottawa Senators of the NHL and was a draft pick of Ottawa's in 2013.
Connor McDavid - A 17 y/o player who is 6' tall and weighs 182 lbs. He is another return player on this roster and is one who everyone will be watching throughout this tournament. He is ranked number one by almost every scout out there and for good reason. He is a player who can steal the show and turn a game around. He has a high skill set and can do it all while performing at top speed. Watch for him to be a game changer through the tournament. Currently playing for Erie of the OHL and he is eligible to be drafted in the 2015 NHL draft.
Nick Paul - Another 19 y/o player who is 6'3" tall and weighs 198 lbs. Paul is a large and very strong winger he has some scoring capability when on the ice. His best trait is that his strength is consistent which makes him hard to knock off the puck or battle against. Should be a crash and bang player for this team. Currently playing for North Bay of the OHL and was drafted by Dallas in 2013 and traded to Ottawa in 2014.
Nic Petan - A 19 y/o player who is attending his second WJHC. He is a shorter 5'9" only weighs 170 lbs. Petan may be a smaller player, but his speed gets him out of tough situations. Reminds me of Marty St. Louis. He is a center who has scoring capability and is able to make seeing eye passes. Should be a steady player and consistent point getter for this team. Currently playing for Portland of the WHL and was drafted by Winnipeg in 2013.
Brayden Point - An 18 y/o player who is smaller. Standing at just 5'8" and weighing only 160 lbs, Point is a speedy playmaker who is able to set up teammates for one touch goals. He is strong in the face off circle and hard to play against. Adds depth at center. Currently playing for Moose Jaw of the WHL and was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2014.
Sam Reinhart - A 19 y/o player who is 6'1" and weighs just 185 lbs. Reinhart was the second overall pick in 2014 and has a very high hockey IQ. He has the ability to read the play well and is able to pass and shoot at top speeds. Has an accurate shot which be a goalies nightmare. This is his second WJHC and he should be a top scorer for this team. Currently playing for Kootenay of the WHL and was drafted by Buffalo in 2014.
Nick Ritchie - A 19 y/o player who stands at 6'2" and weighing in at 226 lbs, this large forward screams power forward. He plays a very physical game and has an edge that most can't compete with. Very strong on his stick and can contribute in the offensive zone. Will crash and bang with the best of them. Currently playing for Peterborough of the OHL and was drafted by Anaheim in 2014.
Jake Virtanen - An 18 y/o who is 6'1" and weighs 208 lbs. A strong power forward who his hard to knock off the puck and likes to play the body. Has good hands and speed to match. Able to contribute offensively and cause grief for opponents. He is able to shoot with accuracy when given the chance. Watch for him to crash and bang and cause turn overs. Currently playing for Calgary of the WHL and was drafted by Vancouver in 2014.
Well that is my brief break down of this years WJHC Team Canada and a small description of each players talents (or at least what I find them able to do). This year Canada should be in the medal rounds and come home with some sort of hardware. Lets hope that it's the GOLD!!
As far as line ups go for this team, I have no idea. There is lots of depth here and the coaching staff shouldn't have too much of an issue slotting players on different lines.
Thanks for reading this long and seeing what I had to say.
Comment, +1, share and follow if you enjoyed.
Remember to get out and support your local minor league teams and players.
Until next time.
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