Breaking down Team Canada’s roster snubs
On Wednesday, Canada announced its preliminary roster for the World Junior Hockey tournament via an extravagant ceremony in St. Catharines, Ontario.
For the 32 players selected, it’s an accomplishment to even make it to this stage. But as there is every year, debates started almost instantly about the players left off the team.
Of course, being left off the Canadian World Junior roster doesn’t always equate to being a low-end prospect. With the largest player pool out of any team to choose from, it’s bound that there will be a few big talents left off every year. Biases towards age, familiarity with the coaching staff, or a rough stretch are often deciding factors to settle close debates between similar players.
Here’s a look at some of the most notable omissions from this year’s selection camp roster.
Owen Tippett
F, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL). 2017, 1st Round, 11th Overall (FLA)
Tippett was a driving force behind the Steelheads’ OHL playoff push last year, falling to the Erie Otters in five games. Tippett struggled to make an impact at the NHL level, picking up just one goal and no assists in seven games with the Panthers, playing mostly on the team’s fourth line. Though his frequent linemate Michael McLeod will be returning for the Canadians (barring a surprise cut), Tippett will likely be forced to wait until next December for another shot at playing on team Canada.
Adam Mascherin
F, Kitchener Rangers (OHL). 2016, 2nd Round, 38th Overall (FLA)
Mascherin’s size doesn’t work in his favour, listed at just 5’9”. But currently 11th in the OHL in scoring, the 2016 Florida Panthers second-rounder is one of the best producers in all of junior hockey. Last season, he was one of just three players in the OHL to hit the 100-point mark, trailing only Alex DeBrincat and Taylor Raddysh in the scoring race.
David Quenneville
D, Medicine Hat Tigers, 2016, 7th Round 200th Overall
Though he stands at just 5’8”, Quenneville has been amongst the best offensive defencemen in the WHL over the past three seasons. A second cousin of Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel, Quenneville registered 34 points so far this season, good enough for second in team scoring and fourth amongst WHL defencemen.
Cliff Pu
F, London Knights (OHL). 2016, 3rd Round, 69th Overall (BUF)
Once a strong complementary piece on the 2015-16 Memorial Cup Champions, Pu has made his case as one of the leaders on the perennially competitive Knights. Last season, Pu shone when given more minutes, picking up 35 goals and 51 assists in 63 games. While teammates Alex Formenton and Robert Thomas cracked the Canadian preliminary roster, Pu was unable to follow in their footsteps.
Tyler Benson
F, Vancouver Giants (WHL). 2016, 2nd Round, 32nd Overall (EDM)
The Vancouver Giants’ captain since his draft year in 2015-16, Benson’s picked up 11 goals and 15 assists through 17 games this year. Limited just to 30 and 33 games in the past two seasons due to bad luck with injuries, Benson’s been on the national radar ever since he scored 146 points in 33 games in his midget year with Edmonton’s South Side Athletic Club.
Along with these five, there were ten others who attended Hockey Canada’s summer camp but were not invited to the selection process: Nic Hague, Dylan Wells, Stuart Skinner, Will Bitten, Matthew Phillips, Michael Rasmussen, Cliff Pu, Mason Shaw, Givani Smith, Gabe Vilardi.
While the aforementioned won’t be on it, Canada will have to name their full roster before December 19th.
