M. Misa-Catton-Greentree
Wanting to recreate the productivity of Misa and Catton from Hlinka, I opt to pair those two again. Greentree is rewarded for his strong start and clutch u18 by playing the role of Wetsch on that line, a big body that can win battles and create space
McKenna-Ritchie-Sennecke
Sennecke and Ritchie have familiarity from Oshawa even if they haven’t always played on the same line on there. Ritchie played really well with Celebrini at the U18, so he can handle the sometimes difficult intellectual aspect of playing with a player as talented as McKenna
Rehkopf-Yager-Martone
Rehkopf and Yager played well together last year and were some of the lone bright spots for a team that was starved of offense. They no longer have Celebrini centring them, but a player that Rehkopf is familiar with from Mississauga, Martone, is added to the line to add size and skill. This is a ridiculous secondary scoring line that few teams will have an answer for.
Cowan-Luchanko-Nadeau
Cowan and Luchanko are the closest to what I would call matchup players in this forward group. Boisvert gets the DEI Quota inclusion being the sole Quebec player on this team because he can hit and plays physical and play on the type of matchup line that is useful in a tournament like this. Cataford was bad in the Hlinka I saw him play in, Gauthier is having just an okay season, and Carbonneau doesn’t fit the profile of someone who plays on a line like this
Nadeau
I put a heavy emphasis on chemistry to avoid the issues of last year, so it was a bit hard to find a spot to put Nadeau. Nonetheless, he’s a capable offensive player than can fill in anywhere in the top 9 if a spark is needed
Extra: Iginla, Cristall
Iginla is in tough to make the team on a stacked left side, and Cristall just left such a bad taste in my mouth after his u18 that I would rather forgo his offensive production than have to deal with all the off the puck issues
Molendyk-Yakemchuk
Molendyk is basically a returnee and will log heavy minutes. He provides a safety blanket for Yakemchuk to activate more often as he has in Calgary.
Dickinson-Bonk
Logical pairing because they play on the same brigade in London even if they aren’t always paired together. Dickinson has been the best defenseman in the CHL and brings everything in all aspects, Bonk was just okay last year but has become better with London as time has gone on.
Schaefer-Brunicke
Schaefer’s unbelievable start and Sterling international record earns him a spot. He’s paired with a safety blanket in Brunicke who can give him licence to get forward. Familiarity from the u18s.
Price
Had a good u18 on an otherwise bad defensive group, has many aspects to his game and can be versatile if he needs to fill in throughout the top 6
Extras: Mews, Parekh
Mews is probably closer than most people think because of his connections to Cameron, and he has a good u18 and Hlinka. Parekh is someone that is deemed surplus to requirements, as there already plenty of offensive producers in the group that render his risk-reward style too risky for a stage this big.
Bjarnason
George
George has played well for Canada in the past, and even on a terrible Owen Sound team has decent Numbers. Bjarnason has been one of the best if not the best goaltenders in the whole CHL, and has the profile of a true number 1, the best Canada would have had at this tournament since Carter Hart.
Extra: Ravensbergen
Beats out Ivankovic and will gain valuable experience for next year. Looked solid in the prospects game
