Canada’s bid for three straight gold medals at the World Junior Championship hit an important milestone Monday as the roster for Hockey Canada’s selection camp was announced. Thirty players will be competing for spots on the final roster and as usual, Canada will enter the tournament with a great chance at being champion.

The roster will have to be cut down to 23 active players and two extras with three goalie spots and 20 skater spots available for participation in the tournament.

While Canada will have plenty of talent in the group they’ll take to Sweden, they will be light on World Junior experience. Age-eligible players that aren’t available include Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Kevin Korchinski, Shane Wright, Zach Benson and Matthew Poitras, all of whom are in the the professional ranks and not being loaned to Canada. Tristan Luneau, who has been with the Anaheim Ducks all season, has been loaned to Team Canada, however.

While Canada’s roster would greatly benefit from the inclusion of such players, the roster itself still looks formidable and will enter the tournament with lofty expectations.

Among those in camp is Matt Savoie, who appeared in a game with the Buffalo Sabres this season. Additionally, first-round picks like Brayden Yager (Pittsburgh Penguins), Conor Geekie (Arizona Coyotes), Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia Flyers) and Matthew Wood (Nashville Predators) are among several top picks vying for spots.

Additionally, projected No. 1 overall pick for 2024 Macklin Celebrini is among the invitees an is expected to be a big part of Canada's roster for this event. He is currently among the NCAA's top scorers at Boston University and is on track to contend for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

The team will be led by head coach Alan Letang, who is currently the head coach with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting.

Canada’s camp opens Sunday, Dec. 10 and will run through Wednesday before the team selection and departing for Europe. The candidates for Team Canada will play in practices and then a series of exhibition games against USports opponents before cutdowns. 

Here is who made the cut.

Forwards

Owen Allard, Denver Barkey (PHI), Owen Beck (MTL), Macklin Celebrini (2024), Easton Cowan (TOR), Nate Danielson (DET), Jordan Dumais (CBJ), Jagger Firkus (CAR), Conor Geekie (ARI), Paul Ludwinski (CHI), Fraser Minten (TOR), Carson Rehkopf (SEA), Matt Savoie (BUF), Markus Vidicek, Matthew Wood (NSH), Brayden Yager (PIT)

Defensemen

Oliver Bonk (PHI), Michael Buchinger (STL), Jorian Donovan (OTT), Jake Furlong (SJS_, Maveric Lamoureux (ARI), Tristan Luneau (ANA), Denton Mateychuk (CBJ), Tanner Molendyk (NSH), Ty Nelson (SEA), Noah Warren (ANA)

Goalies

Domenic Divicentis (WPG), Scott Ratzlaff (BUF), Mathis Rousseau, Samuel St.-Hilaire

Among the notable omissions, Pittsburgh Penguins first-round pick Owen Pickering was not among the defensemen named to Team Canada. The 6-foot-5 left-shot defenseman currently captains the Swift Current Broncos, but has seen a dip in his production this season.

Andrew Cristall, the Washington Capitals prospect who is currently on pace for 124 points in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets, also did not get an invite to Team Canada. He will have another year of eligibility to try again next year.

Interestingly, four players who were not drafted in either of the last two drafts, were selected for inclusion. Owen Allard from the Soo Greyhounds and Markus Vidicek of the Halifax Mooseheads each were among forwards invited to the camp, while goaltenders Mathis Rousseau of the Mooseheads and Samuel St-Hilaire of the Sherbrooke Phoenix will be among the goalies competing for one of three spots.

Stay tuned for more in-depth analysis on Canada's roster coming soon on FloHockey.