Selection Camp for the 2021 World Juniors Championship certainly didn’t turn out as expected for Team Canada. After just two intra-squad scrimmages, the camp was put into a 14-day quarantine when multiple players and non-core staff tested positive for COVID-19.
Despite that — and the number of cases many of the teams are dealing with — Hockey Canada is still headed into the “bubble” in Edmonton, Alberta this weekend, where they’ll quarantine for an additional five days before the tournament begins later this month.
The Los Angeles Kings sent two prospects to Team Canada’s selection camp — forward Quinton Byfield and defender Jordan Spence. Both players have been deemed fit to play and are included on the 25-player roster for Team Canada. Byfield is among six players returning from last year’s gold medal-winning team. Of the three goaltenders, eight defenders and 14 forwards, just one player — goaltender Taylor Gauthier, who is expected to start in net — is draft eligible for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
The tournament will begin with a preliminary round on Christmas Day (Dec. 25, 2020) through Dec. 31. Team Canada will play their first game against Germany on Dec. 26. The quarterfinals will be on Jan. 2, 2021, followed by the semifinals on Jan. 4. The Bronze and Gold Medal games will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
The full roster is listed below.
Forwards
Kirby Dach (Chicago Blackhawks, 2019)
Connor Zach (Calgary Flames, 2020)
Dylan Holloway (Edmonton Oilers, 2020)
Cole Perfetti (Winnipeg Jets, 2020)
Jakob Pelletier (Calgary Flames, 2019)
Alex Newhook (Colorado Avalanche, 2019)
Ryan Suzuki (Carolina Hurricanes, 2019)
Connor McMichael* (Washington Capitals, 2019)
Peyton Krebs (Vegas Golden Knights, 2019)
Quinton Byfield* (Los Angeles Kings, 2020)
Dawson Mercer* (New Jersey Devils, 2020)
Dylan Cozens* (Buffalo Sabres, 2019)
Philip Tomasino (Nashville Predators, 2019)
Jack Quinn (Buffalo Sabres, 2020)
Defenders
Braden Schneider (New York Rangers, 2020)
Kaedan Korczak (Vegas Golden Knights, 2019)
Bowen Byram* (Colorado Avalanche, 2019)
Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars, 2019)
Jamie Drysdale* (Anaheim Ducks, 2020)
Jordan Spence (Los Angeles Kings, 2019)
Kaiden Guhle (Montreal Canadiens, 2020)
Justin Barron (Colorado Avalanche, 2020)
Goaltenders
Devon Levi (Florida Panthers, 2020)
Taylor Gauthier (2021 Draft)
Dylan Garand (New York Rangers, 2020)
* — denotes 2020 WJC player