WJC: 2023 Team Canada Roster Talk Part 2

[JackSlater]

In Mateychuk's case, they already had Clarke, Korchinski, and Zellwegger as offensively focused defenseman, so there's that. Hockey Canada is weird though. Once you play for them at some level before the U20, they keep their eyes on you moving forward.

Yeah they seem dogmatic about getting players "in the program" and "knowing" players because they played for Hockey Canada once in the past or something. I grasp that there is some sense of comfort there, but they mainly just have to pick the best players and make sure that each necessary role is covered. I doubt that having played for Canada at the U17 or something imbues a player with a depth of knowledge that is difficult to replace.

 

[Statsy]

I remember the day they cancelled it. It really did leave a hole in my Christmas holidays. There is nothing quite like the World Juniors at Christmas.

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I remember when I use to buy The Hockey News - World Juniors edition. I looked forward to it coming out, spend $10(?) on it, get it home, read the World Junior review in 15 minutes and realize I burned $10 to read something I could have gotten at HF for free. In fact, the info here was 100x more in depth...

View attachment 620878

^^

Like this but in Canadian dollars.

Their WJC preview used to be much more in depth than what it's become.

 

[kyle44]

Yet Lambos(thought to be a sure thing, or very close to it) was cut, and Bankier(the ultimate dark horse, who no one thought had a chance) made it.

Yeah, I specifically pointed to Bankier being the exception. If you follow Canadian junior hockey and Team Canada closely, there were several folks who alluded to Lambos being on the bubble since he hardly played in the summer and the "returnee" cache was different this year.

I don't think camp is 100% useless in that it can solidify preconceived notions or allow players such as Bankier to earn their spot. My issue is that I watched both games and I'm not sure what else Dumais, Greene, etc. could've done better while, conversely, I'm not sure what others did at camp to make the roster. If HC believes there is nothing you could do at camp to earn a spot then, IMO, save the players the public embarrassment of being cut and don't invite them. Having said that, there is value in an 04 like Dumais getting familiar with the process for next year.

 

[JackSlater]

Their WJC preview used to be much more in depth than what it's become.

TSN also didn't cover the cuts nearly as much as it has in the past. Seems like it is trying to make a shift.

 

[MeHateHe]

^^ Every year, people feel like this way. ^^

In Hockey Canada's defense, they have a heck of a track record.

Haven't read the whole thread yet. Has anyone said they'd be cheering for Austria because Canada left off their favourite player.?

Never change, HF, never change

I remember the day they cancelled it. It really did leave a hole in my Christmas holidays. There is nothing quite like the World Juniors at Christmas.

*********************************************************************

I remember when I use to buy The Hockey News - World Juniors edition. I looked forward to it coming out, spend $10(?) on it, get it home, read the World Junior review in 15 minutes and realize I burned $10 to read something I could have gotten at HF for free. In fact, the info here was 100x more in depth...

View attachment 620878

^^

Like this but in Canadian dollars.

Canadian bills don't burn. You're probably from Bellingham.

 

[cmcneil02]

Othmann | Wright | Guenther
Gaucher | Stankoven | Bedard
Fantilli | Bankier | Roy
Schaefer | Dean | Ostapchuk

I’m still going with my forward group, really balances out the load, I really like it.

Roy | Wright | Bedard
Fantilli | Stankoven | Guenther
Gaucher | Dean | Othmann
Schaefer | Bankier | Ostapchuk

This works too but I like the first combination better.

There really isn’t a wrong way to develop the team though, the coaching staff know what they’re doing.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Yeah, I specifically pointed to Bankier being the exception. If you follow Canadian junior hockey and Team Canada closely, there were several folks who alluded to Lambos being on the bubble since he hardly played in the summer and the "returnee" cache was different this year.

I don't think camp is 100% useless in that it can solidify preconceived notions or allow players such as Bankier to earn their spot. My issue is that I watched both games and I'm not sure what else Dumais, Greene, etc. could've done better while, conversely, I'm not sure what others did at camp to make the roster. If HC believes there is nothing you could do at camp to earn a spot then, IMO, save the players the public embarrassment of being cut and don't invite them. Having said that, there is value in an 04 like Dumais getting familiar with the process for next year.

There is definitely value in having a selection camp, even if, say, 10/13 forward spots and 5/7 defense spots are already spoken for. It allows the coaching staff to see the players on the ice, get a feel for potential defense pairings and line combos, get the players to know each other a little better off the ice, and work on special teams and systems. There is no feasible way for those with final responsibility for selecting the team (whether that be Boyd or Williams...or both) to see all these players live during the season, so seeing these players on the ice would be critical in my view - even if its to validate what they had previously thought about the players.

The camps now are much smaller than they were even a few years ago. It seems like Hockey Canada finally caught on to the fact that they could save some of the players (and their club teams) the trouble and disruption of having them travel to the camp only to get cut in a fairly public way shortly afterwards.

I feel like for this particular team, substantially all of the team was already chosen prior to the camp and there were only a few open spots - maybe 2 or 3 forwards, 1 or 2 defenseman. At the very least, like you said some of the guys like Dumais will have gotten some valuable experience for next year.

 

[FLYguy3911]

In Mateychuk's case, they already had Clarke, Korchinski, and Zellwegger as offensively focused defenseman, so there's that. Hockey Canada is weird though. Once you play for them at some level before the U20, they keep their eyes on you moving forward.

The odd thing is Mateychuk cracked this age group at the 2021 u18s as a 16 year old (albeit a spare). Just asinine not to even invite him to camp. He should have easily been part of the regular group, but even as a 7D he'd have been quite valuable to have as a wildcard given his versatility. Just reeks of hard fitting roles instead of picking the best players ala Clarke last year. Can see it in the bottom 6 selections also. Canada is still the obvious favorite, but they often outsmart themselves (Makar as the 7D until Foote got hurt in 2018 comes to mind).

 

[Statsy]

The odd thing is Mateychuk cracked this age group at the 2021 u18s as a 16 year old (albeit a spare). Just asinine not to even invite him to camp. He should have easily been part of the regular group, but even as a 7D he'd have been quite valuable to have as a wildcard given his versatility. Just reeks of hard fitting roles instead of picking the best players ala Clarke last year. Can see it in the bottom 6 selections also. Canada is still the obvious favorite, but they often outsmart themselves (Makar as the 7D until Foote got hurt in 2018 comes to mind).

Don't remind me of that Makar thing. I got PTSD from that.

 

[Help]

I'm pretty shocked that Owen Beck didn't make the team. He's been playing well above expectations since he was drafted; looked great in training camp for Montreal. He was one of the last cuts, and if it was based on merit alone he would have made it I'd say. He's been a force for mississauga thus far, pacing for over 100 points. Best faceoff man in junior hockey. And he busted his butt for Canada at the U18s

No disrespect for Adam Fantilli, he's obviously very talented and what he is doing in the NCAA is nothing short of remarkable. He's burning it down. Eichel esque. But what message does it send? Beck is guy, like many others on that roster, who paid his dues. Fantilli picked Canada last minute. Probably under the pretext that he is assured a spot. It's whatever, hockey canada did what they had to, but that can't be a popular move in the room

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I'm pretty shocked that Owen Beck didn't make the team. He's been playing well above expectations since he was drafted; looked great in training camp for Montreal. He was one of the last cuts, and if it was based on merit alone he would have made it I'd say. He's been a force for mississauga thus far, pacing for over 100 points. Best faceoff man in junior hockey. And he busted his butt for Canada at the U18s

No disrespect for Adam Fantilli, he's obviously very talented and what he is doing in the NCAA is nothing short of remarkable. He's burning it down. Eichel esque. But what message does it send? Beck is guy, like many others on that roster, who paid his dues. Fantilli picked Canada last minute. Probably under the pretext that he is assured a spot. It's whatever, hockey canada did what they had to, but that can't be a popular move in the room

Fantilli couldn't play for any other team then Canada. There was no last minute decision for him to make lol

 

[Mr. Met]

I'm pretty shocked that Owen Beck didn't make the team. He's been playing well above expectations since he was drafted; looked great in training camp for Montreal. He was one of the last cuts, and if it was based on merit alone he would have made it I'd say. He's been a force for mississauga thus far, pacing for over 100 points. Best faceoff man in junior hockey. And he busted his butt for Canada at the U18s

No disrespect for Adam Fantilli, he's obviously very talented and what he is doing in the NCAA is nothing short of remarkable. He's burning it down. Eichel esque. But what message does it send? Beck is guy, like many others on that roster, who paid his dues. Fantilli picked Canada last minute. Probably under the pretext that he is assured a spot. It's whatever, hockey canada did what they had to, but that can't be a popular move in the room

Agreed, also not sure how Lane Hutson didn't make this roster he's over PPG and in the Montreal Canadians system

 

[Help]

Agreed, also not sure how Lane Hutson didn't make this roster he's over PPG and in the Montreal Canadians system

He is american

 

[Mr. Met]

He is american

He plays for the Canadians

 

[ORRFForever]

He plays for the Canadians

He plays for the "Canadiens".

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Not this again.

 

[ORRFForever]

Not this again.

We're talking about Lane Hutson, no?

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

We're talking about Lane Hutson, no?

I was referring to the debate over Fantilli's nationality:

Fantilli picked Canada last minute. Probably under the pretext that he is assured a spot. It's whatever, hockey canada did what they had to, but that can't be a popular move in the room

 

[bert]

Then this is a terrible decision in these times. Nhl getting smaller and faster. No more goons

Big physical teams keep winning the cup and making deep runs. Terrible take on your end really. Goons? These guys are all over a ppg and are captains of their teams while playing physical hockey

That's why Canada has been struggling in front of the net at the WJC in recent years. They tend to go with household names rather than goalies who are actually showing results in league play.

Thats not accurate at all.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Big physical teams keep winning the cup and making deep runs. Terrible take on your end really. Goons? These guys are all over a ppg and are captains of their teams while playing physical hockey


Thats not accurate at all.

The assistant coach pretty much said they went with Gaudreau because he won gold at the U18 and not because of his performance since then or at the camp.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I'm pretty shocked that Owen Beck didn't make the team. He's been playing well above expectations since he was drafted; looked great in training camp for Montreal. He was one of the last cuts, and if it was based on merit alone he would have made it I'd say. He's been a force for mississauga thus far, pacing for over 100 points. Best faceoff man in junior hockey. And he busted his butt for Canada at the U18s

No disrespect for Adam Fantilli, he's obviously very talented and what he is doing in the NCAA is nothing short of remarkable. He's burning it down. Eichel esque. But what message does it send? Beck is guy, like many others on that roster, who paid his dues. Fantilli picked Canada last minute. Probably under the pretext that he is assured a spot. It's whatever, hockey canada did what they had to, but that can't be a popular move in the room

Yeah, Beck was almost as good for Canada at the U18s as Fantilli.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah, Beck was almost as good for Canada at the U18s as Fantilli.

Perhaps Beck will zig where Fantilli zagged and represent USA in Halifax.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Perhaps Beck will zig where Fantilli zagged and represent USA in Halifax.

I'm here for it.

 

[JackSlater]

I'm here for it.

I think he's a lock. We'll have to wait for his choice.

 

[bert]

The assistant coach pretty much said they went with Gaudreau because he won gold at the U18 and not because of his performance since then or at the camp.

You said they havent had good goaltending. They have had great goaltending. Devon Levi... Dylan Garand... I know a hockey canada goalie coach and he said Milic is the best of the bunch and it looks like they are going with him. He has been awesome.