Scout's Analysis: Thoughts on Canada's WJC selection camp roster

It’s been an eventful and exciting week in Canadian hockey, with the 4 Nations Face-Off roster being revealed and the world junior training camp roster announced. The process both management groups have gone through is thorough and exhausting. Canadian hockey fans expect to win gold at every international event, so the pressure is always immense. 

Next week from Dec. 10-13, 32 junior prospects will descend on Ottawa for Team Canada’s selection camp for the WJC team, including four goaltenders, 10 defencemen and 18 forwards. As always, the camp roster is being debated for its strengths and potential weaknesses, but this year's list also arrived with some surprising omissions. 

Here's our look at the training camp roster, and more:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Easton Cowan, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, F, London Knights (OHL) 
Drafted: Toronto Maple Leafs, first round (28^th overall) in 2023

Cowan is on the verge of OHL history. He has registered a point in 55 straight OHL games, tying him with Leafs legend Doug Gilmour, and will have a chance to break the record Friday night in London's last game before the selection camp opens. Cowan is a returning player for Team Canada after he was generally deployed in a depth role last year. I expect him to skate in Team Canada’s top-six forward group this time around, but he will have to establish himself in training camp. Cowan is at his best when he combines his skill with relentless compete on and off the puck. 

Jett Luchanko, 5-foot-11, 191 pounds, F, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Drafted: Philadelphia Flyers, first round (13th overall) in 2024

Luchanko started the season in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers and will be one of the most reliable three-zone prospects at Canada’s training camp. Luchanko can be deployed in all situations and he’s very responsible off the puck. Canada’s coaching staff could end up relying on Luchanko to match-up against, and shut-down top lines or spill over the boards when the group needs to win a draw and produce offence. 

Andrew Cristall, 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, F, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Drafted: Washington Capitals, second round, (40th overall) in 2023

Cristall wasn’t part of Team Canada’s roster last year, but didn’t let the disappointment slow him down. Cristall is a dynamic forward who scores goals almost as much as he sets up linemates, producing 40G-71A last year for the Kelowna Rockets. He’s currently second in WHL scoring with 18G-29A. Cristall is one of my favourite personalities. The kid lights up a room with his presence. Players like Cristall can lighten the mood and provide results between whistles in high leverage games. 

Caden Price, 6-feet, 190 pounds, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Drafted: Seattle Kraken, third round (84th overall) in 2023

Price has been a workhorse in the WHL where he's averaging over 28 minutes per game and is used in all situations. He leads WHL defencemen in scoring with 6G-25A, but more impressive are the sacrifices he makes on defence. Price gets in the lane to block shots and his quickness allows him to kill plays in the defensive zone before opponents have a chance to work off the cycle. 

Sam Dickinson, 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, D, London Knights (OHL)
Drafted: San Jose Sharks, first round (11th overall) in 2024

Dickinson arrives at Team Canada camp playing the best hockey of his junior career. He’s being deployed in all situations in London. His size and length allow him to take away time and space for opponents quickly and effectively. Dickinson is a fantastic skater with an effortless stride in open ice and the ability to lead the rush on his own or join the attack as an extra layer. He’s also a power play quarterback who’s equally defined as a passer and shooter. Dickinson leads all OHL defencemen in scoring and is third overall in the OHL with 15G-30A. 

THE GOALTENDING OUTLOOK

Team Canada will go as far as their netminding takes them. Rarely does a team medal at this event without steady results between the pipes. I don’t see a clear-cut favourite entering training camp; all of the candidates have very similar statistics with their junior clubs so it will be a battle between Carson Bjarnason, Carter George, Jack Ivankovic and Scott Ratzlaff. If Team Canada prefers a larger body, Bjarnason is the biggest of the three (6-foot-3, 208 pounds), but the others are compact and very athletic choices.

The youngest of the group is draft eligible Ivankovic from the Brampton Steelheads (OHL). I anticipate him pushing for a spot. Ivankovic backstopped Canada’s gold medal U18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament in August. He’s not tall (5-foot-11, 179 pounds), but he’s quick and athletic. 

THE YOUNGER PLAYERS

Canada’s training camp roster includes some intriguing draft eligible prospects. The WJC is a difficult stage for draft eligibles, but forward Porter Martone, defenceman Matthew Schaefer and previously mentioned goalie Ivankovic will give it their best shot. There's also a 16-year-old (turning 17 just before the tournament begins) who isn't eligible for the NHL Draft until 2026, trying to crack this year's roster:

Matthew Schaefer, 6-foot-1, 183 pounds, D, Erie Otters (OHL)
NHL draft eligible in 2025

Schaefer is my top-ranked prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. Here’s a sample of what he can bring to Team Canada if he makes the club, first on offence:

And, on the defensive side as well:

Porter Martone, 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, F, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
NHL draft eligible in 2025

Martone is the leading scorer in the OHL (20G-30A). His combination of skill and will could lead to a roster spot on Canada. His stature and power helps create space for himself and his linemates. I’m curious to see how Martone handles the elevated pace of this training camp. He is currently my third-ranked draft eligible prospect. 

Gavin McKenna, 5-foot-11, 162 pounds, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
NHL draft eligible in 2026

Another youngster to keep close tabs on is McKenna, who leads the WHL scoring race with 19G-38A, and is 10 points ahead. He also has experience on the international stage representing Canada. Last spring, at the U18 World Championship, McKenna produced an incredible 10G-10A in only seven games. He’s a game-changing offensive talent who can carry shifts on his own. If he makes this team expect him to play an elevated role offensively. At worst he slots in as a power play specialist for Team Canada. 

SURPRISE OMISSIONS

As I said from the outset, Team Canada’s management group has a plan for how they want to play and a vision for the type of roster they believe will lead them to gold.

Having said that, I was surprised to see some players omitted from the training camp roster. Zayne Parekh was initially on this list, but he's since been added to the selection camp after Harrison Brunicke was ruled out to injury.

Michael Misa, 6-feet, 184 pounds, F, Saginaw Spirit (OHL) 
NHL draft eligible in 2025

I felt Misa (25G-24A), an elite draft eligible prospect, was deserving of an invite. Misa can play both centre and the wing to produce offence while paying attention to his defensive details. 

Carter Yakemchuk, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Drafted: Ottawa Senators, first round (seventh overall) in 2024

I’m sure there are others who deserved mentioning, but I’m including Ottawa Senators first round pick Yakemchuk as my last omission. Yakemchuk is a towering right-shot defenceman who has a mean streak and an ability to produce offence. He posted 4G-7A in his most recent 10-game segment while averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game and being deployed in all situations.