WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[Mathieukferland]

The Athletic has an article on Canada's selections, I'll post some of the thoughts. They are not McKenzie level insiders but Wheeler and Pronman do closely follow this stuff, often attend the camps in person, and their views are interesting.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5963479/2024/12/02/canada-world-juniors-roster-selection-camp-2024/

They seem to think that all of McKenna, Martone, and Schaefer will make it. They are surprised that both Yakemchuk and Parekh didn't even make camp, but thought one would make it as a specialist. They think that questions exist about their ability to defend at even strength. They believe that Iginla and Sennecke were viewed as top nine or bust, and that Martone's excellent start to the season bumped them out. Wheeler thinks that Rehkopf and Ratzlaff are not locks to return, and Pronman raised the possibility that Wood could be cut though he would be surprised.

This is their projected roster.

It this ends up being the roster it’s better than I hope for when I saw the invite list, and hopefully they just avoid the real horrible picks in Howe and Allen

 

[Gregor Samsa]

As an American Flyers fan, I’ll be rooting for Canada if all 4 Flyer’ prospects make the team. I probably will even if only 2-3 make it

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Wow. That is an embarrassment of riches. A lot of fine players.

But a lot of terrible choices again this year.

 

[Mathieukferland]

 

[Svedu]

Insane depth Canada has this year. A first round prospect like Hemming wouldn't even make your second team, I even doubt he would make your third roster as well.

McKenna has been one to follow ever since u18. Should be a tier above Bedard and Lafreniere. Question if he's MacKinnon level of a prospect or even better. Exciting times!

Misa, Sennecke, Parekh, Hage would probably be in the top formations for every nation besides the US perhaps.
Desnoyers would be a leading player for many as well. Sheesh!

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Ya why does that post even list Hage instead of Sennecke?

Basing any decision to exclude Hage on account of his age is somewhat farcical. While the WJC maybe a U20 tournament where 19 year olds dominant, Hage is playing in the NCAA against players that are 21, 22 and 23 and he’s excelling.

 

[blink]

It's almost like Team Canada has deemed the WJC tourney too easy to win now and handicap themselves to make it difficult and exciting for fans.

Some of these omissions are just brutal, like just invite them to camp at least and have a look.

Guaranteed this team will look even worse with the 3-4 surprise cuts that happen every year.....

 

[Thechozen1]

Thought Kevin He positioned himself well enough with his play for an invite. He could have been a real spark plug energy type player for that roster.

 

[hockey20000]

to bad we cant send 2 teams it would be fun lol

 

[kyle44]

I can see that that there are a number of 18 years old players that HC left off with good reasons and there are one or 2 surprises but not really a surprise:

1. Again, it looks like most comments on this site is from someone who is a fan of a hockey player.
2. Note that you need to invite players that you have not seen or players who can play with pace and speed against the American team. After all, USNTD is likely the best program if not the best.
3. I have Yakemchuk as the 8th defenseman on this roster because he just lacks the speed and pace when he was playing during the summer development games. So, not inviting him is not that big of a deal. His draft position was a lot higher than the skill package that he possess as of July 2024. He needs to prove his worth by improving his skating.
4. This is 19 years 19-year-old tournament, hence i am not surprised Senneck and Iginla are not invited as they do not display the level of speed and pace required for this tournament during the summer development camp against team USA.
5. M. Misa did not look like he has the strength and speed to play against 19 years old player when i watched him during the CHL USA prospect games. Only 2 players demonstrated exceptional ability, they are Schaeffer and Martone.
5. HC wants to see Akey and Allen and Brunicke, so they have to leave off the poor or average performers during the summer games.
6. The better performers during the summer games on defense are Molendyk, Bonk, Dickinson, Gibson, and Mynio.
7. I suspect these 7-9 forwards are on the bubble as they may ormay not play well during December camp. Although, HC should allow them 3-5 days before they make the decisions :

Denver Barkey
Cole Beaudoin
Mathieu Cataford
Ethan Gauthier
Riley Heidt
Tanner Howe
Jett Luchanko
Luca Pinelli
Brayden Yager

We will have to see which forward will demonstrate that they have speed and pace during games against the U-sports. I am hoping that HC keep some extra forwards around to play against other teams.

Sennecke and Iginla were 3rd and 4th in scoring across the intersquad and regular games during the summer development camp. You can make an argument about age and pace of play, but they are certainly more deserving of camp invites over others selected.

 

[Statsy]

Also worth noting is that this is the CAMP rejects roster. Once they cut down to the official roster, those released players will then be eligible for this suddenly even better rejects team!

 

[Mathieukferland]

Also worth noting is that this is the CAMP rejects roster. Once they cut down to the official roster, those released players will then be eligible for this suddenly even better rejects team!

There have been some poor decisions over the years, leaving Bolduc off the Halifax team, leaving off Jarvis in 2020, Clarke in 2021, but this is by far the most galaxy brain decisions in a single year

 

[novisor]

Is Rehkopf not going to make this team? Based on how good he looked last year, that would be a shock. TSN doesn't have him on it and the Athletic does but said he could be cut.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Is Rehkopf not going to make this team? Based on how good he looked last year, that would be a shock. TSN doesn't have him on it and the Athletic does but said he could be cut.

They had him and Wood both on the outside looking in on their show which was surprising.

 

[JackSlater]

Rehkopf and Wood getting cut would seem very strange to me. They were actually good last year on a team where most forwards weren't, they are seemingly not having bad seasons, good size, natural wingers. I don't see why they would be cut.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Rehkopf started as the 13th forward last year so I don’t think HC has ever been that high on him

 

[Statsy]

Rehkopf started as the 13th forward last year so I don’t think HC has ever been that high on him

That's where he started, not where he finished.

 

[therealdeal]

I though Rehkopf was one of our better players when he got ice time last year.

 

[TheDoldrums]

That's where he started, not where he finished.

Yes thanks I watched the games. He was probably the most dangerous forward and still had an uphill battle for ice time. Which probably indicates that overall they are not as high on him as most people. Bob not having him on the team is pretty telling of that as well.

 

[TheDoldrums]

The thing to remember is Hockey Canada looks at defense first, defense second and offense third. I don’t agree with this but they’ve been pretty consistent. The decision makers probably view the 2014 Olympic team has the pinnacle of international hockey. Nothing gets them more excited than the thought of sweeping a tournament with a bunch of 2-0 wins.

Almost every snub or cut eventually leads back to the same issue. Misa? Bad off the puck. Sennecke? Can’t do his job in a tight defensive structure. Parekh and Yakemchuk? Viewed as defensive liabilities. Rehkopf isn’t seen as a great defender either. Why are they playing Minten so much? Because he defended like a NHL veteran, who cares how many rush chances he kills.

Again I don’t agree with the philosophy but you have to expect it at this point.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Misa? Bad off the puck

This is the only one I’ll push back on; if you watched the prospects game (yes I realise by that point there was already zero chance for him), he was extremely physical and had a very active stick. Exclusions like Hage and to a lesser extent Sennecke I can understand if there’s going to be a hyper focus on defensive forwards (but if that’s the case what on earth are Pinelli and Howe doing there), but Misa generally looks very comptent in all areas of his game

Why are they playing Minten so much? Because he defended like a NHL veteran, who cares how many rush chances he kills.

Ah ahaha this gave me a good laugh, the fact that literally started Minten over Celebrini and Savoie in 3v3 vs the states in the pre-tournament game showed what they thought of him and doomed the team from the start

 

[dino200022]

To me there is a fine line, sure you can bring guys that are your so called "200" foot forwards, but when you need a goal, when you really need a goal who is getting that for you? For every Patrice Bergeron you have, you have to surround them with a Marchand and Pasta. Don't need all 12 forwards that are identical, makes for an easy scout report.

 

[Byron Bitz]

That every bit as good as the squad they picked. I honestly think Iginla and Parekh would be two of the best players in the entire tournament

 

[TheBeastCoast]

That every bit as good as the squad they picked. I honestly think Iginla and Parekh would be two of the best players in the entire tournament

I highly doubt that. Iginla wasn’t the best player at the U18s in the spring he isn’t going to be the best player at this tournament 6 months later.

 

[Dack]

This is kind of wild. Maybe I just don't remember it happening but I can't think of many examples of NHL GMs openly questioning HC.