Bedard among Sask.-based players invited to Hockey Canada World Junior selection camp
Regina Pats’ star Connor Bedard is among three Saskatchewan-based players invited to attend Hockey Canada’s selection camp for the World Junior Hockey Championships.
Hockey Canada released its selection camp roster on Wednesday morning. Bedard, who many scouts believe could be the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft, is excited to be on that list.
“Just to get the opportunity to go there and work my hardest to make the team is really special,” Bedard said in a media release.
The 16-year-old North Vancouver, B.C. product made headlines last season after becoming the first player in Western Hockey League (WHL) history to be granted exceptional status to enter the league a year at 15 years old.
He went on to be named rookie of the year after putting up 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 16 games inside the WHL hub at Regina’s Brandt Centre.
Bedard has 11 goals, 6 assists in 21 games with the Pats this season.
“He’s one of a half-dozen guys in the WHL who can turn the game around in one play,” Pats general manager and head coach John Paddock said.
Paddock added that the invite is an honour for both the player and organization.
Moose Jaw Warriors captain and defensive work horse Daemon Hunt also got the call to join selection camp.
The 19 year-old Minnesota Wild draft pick has seven goals and 14 points through his team’s first 18 games.
Hunt will be joined at the defensive position by Prince Albert Raiders star Kaiden Guhle. The 19 year-old was selected 16th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Team Canada lead Alan Millar said three goaltenders were invited to camp and there will not be any cuts at the position. The only battle for the goalies will be for starter and back-up.
Hockey Canada’s selection camp takes place in Calgary from Dec. 9-13.
Canada will play two selection camp games on Dec. 11 and 12.
The World Junior Hockey Championships will be held in Red Deer and Edmonton from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
THE ROSTER
Goaltenders: Brett Brochu (London, OHL), Sebastian Cossa (Edmonton, WHL), Dylan Garand (Kamloops, WHL)
Defence: Lukas Cormier (Charlottetown, LHJMQ), Kaiden Ghule (Prince Albert, WHL), Daemon Hunt (Moose Jaw, WHL), Vincent Iorio (Brandon, WHL), Carson Lambos (Winnipeg, WHL), Ryan O’Rourke (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Owen Power (Michigan, NCAA), Donovan Sebrango (Grand Rapids, AHL), Ronan Seeley (Everett, WHL), Jack Thompson (Sudbury, OHL), Olen Zellweger (Everett, WHL)
Forwards: Connor Bedard (Regina, WHL), Xavier Bourgault (Shawinigan (LHJMQ), Mavrik Bourque (Shawinigan, LHJMQ), Will Cuylle (Windsor, OHL), Zach Dean (Gatineau, LHJMQ), Elliot Desnoyers (Halifax, LHJMQ), William Dufour (Saint John, LHJMQ), Luke Evangelista (London, OHL), Jack Finely (Spokane, WHL), Ridly Greig (Brandon, WHL), Dylan Geunther (Edmonton, WHL), Kent Johnson (Michigan, NCAA), Hendrix Lapierre (Acadie-Bathurst, LHJMQ), Mason McTavish (Peterborough, OHL), Jake Neighbors (Edmonton, WHL), Cole Perfetti (Manitoba, AHL), Joshua Roy (Sherbrooke, LHJMQ), Justin Sourdif (Vancouver, WHL), Logan Stankoven Kamloops, WHL), Ryan Tverberg (Connecticut, NCAA), Shane Wright (Kingston, OHL).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.