All it took was two practices and two intra squad games and head coach Craig Hartsburg knew who he wanted to wear Canada's colours this Christmas in the Czech Republic.
Hartsburg released thirteen players on Thursday, one day earlier than expected as he once again decided that the younger players will carry Canada onto the world stage starting on Boxing Day.
10 of the 22 players selected to the roster today are 18 or younger, but many of them have much in the way of international experience having competed for Canada in Septembers super series against the Russians.
Eleven players were given the bad news early Thursday morning, among them the Quebec Remparts Angelo Esposito who has now been cut in three consecutive Team Canada camps, this years troubles began earlier in the year when he could not report for the Super Series due to injury, with many of the players on this squad from that roster, Esposito became the odd man out when it came to cut down day.
The make up of the team finds almost half of the squad from the Ontario league with ten selections, eight were taken from WHL rosters, three from the Q and one from the US college system.
You can view the entire Team Canada roster from the Hockey Canada website (see here), Canada will be off to Europe on Friday to begin a pre competition camp, leading up to the opening game on Boxing Day against the host Czech Republic.
Globe and Mail--Youth served as Hartsburg names junior team
National Post--Esposito among final cuts as Canada juniors firm up roster
National Post--Canadian juniors go with youth movement
Canada.com--Surprises among cuts for Team Canada
Toronto Star--Junior hockey team roster set
No comments:
Post a Comment