December 13 Update:
The first roster cuts have been made and the decision was to send only 12 forwards to Sweden. Team Canada is (faintly) hoping one of Zach Benson or Matthew Poitras will be released from their NHL teams for the tournament. If they aren't one of the players left behind today will be called over.
Fraser Minten is getting on the plane to Sweden tomorrow, and so is Easton Cowan. Cowan was played in the exhibition games where choices were made, and he started as the 13th forward which was a little unnerving, but he worked his way onto the team in this next step.
The team will play some friendlies in the days leading up to the tournament start on Boxing Day. The official final roster will be due just before the tournament begins.
Meet the 2⃣2⃣ players who will wear the 🍁 at the #WorldJuniors!
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 13, 2023
Voici les 2⃣2⃣ joueurs qui représenteront le 🇨🇦 au #MondialJunior! pic.twitter.com/V6gTjUD24v
TSN.ca Staff
TSN has the full selection camp roster above. It's a 30-player list for the camp which runs next week in Oakville.
There are 16 forwards in total, and the team has to be cut to 20 skaters by the time the WJC actually starts. Team Canada plays a pre-tournament set of friendlies in Sweden during their camp there which begins on December 14. There will almost certainly be players who go to Sweden who get cut before the WJC itself begins in Gothenburg on December 26.
Not featured in the summer Team Canada camp, Easton Cowan has been scoring a lot of goals and setting up a few more for the London Knights as he plays in all situations and at wing as well as centre, and on either the first or second line at the whim of the coach.
One of the familiar problems with Team Canada at any level is that it's so star heavy, no one can PK. Well, Cowan can PK in a way extremely reminiscent of Mitch Marner, and if that gets him in the WJC, he won't be complaining.
Fraser Minten, a top-line centre, seems like a lock to make the team.
The first hurdle for both is to be on the plane that leaves on December 14. Good luck, guys!
