WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[Hockeyville USA]

Celebrini is Canadian, but he’s been playing in the U.S. since he was 14 or younger. It is a stretch to credit Canada for “producing” him even though he plays for Canada internationally.

Celebrini was born in Canada to Canadian parents, played most of his minor hockey in Canada. Thus is Canadian.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Probably should have brought Matthew Wood back. Idk if he was terrible at World Junior Camp or what,..

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Probably should have brought Matthew Wood back. Idk if he was terrible at World Junior Camp or what,..

He scored a goal or two against U Sport. I think they knew exactly what their team was going into camp to be honest.

 

[JackSlater]

Probably should have brought Matthew Wood back. Idk if he was terrible at World Junior Camp or what,..

He wasn't terrible. He wasn't great like Sennecke either. There is not much to indicate that the camp was anything but a farce. Yes he should probably be on the team though.

 

[Buttonwood]

One theory that popped into my head watching the current players: obviously lots of talk about the talent left at home (for good reason) - I'm sure these kids are pretty aware of it. To me, it looks like some players at least are playing hero ball - attempting for perimeter shots that may or may not beat an average OHL goalie, or trying other individual low chance plays.

Two more obvious issues that would reinforce that: the coaching staff misusing players (particularly PP) and instilling 'shooters mentality' in a day and age where fewer, higher quality looks is a more modern offensive strategy. Everything has just snowballed into some uninspiring offensive hockey.

 

[HSF]

so dumb not taking Yakemchuk esp with the tournament being in Ottawa

Just my opinion but his skill would help

 

[TheBeastCoast]

so dumb not taking Yakemchuk esp with the tournament being in Ottawa

Just my opinion but his skill would help

I think he should have had a chance to win a spot. Where the tournament is held should be completely irrelevant to team selection.

 

[HSF]

I think he should have had a chance to win a spot. Where the tournament is held should be completely irrelevant to team selection.

hes worthy to be on the roster though. I am not talking about a guy who is completely no one. Its just an obvious pick imo. It is actually a much better reason than having a guy like Pinelli cause he plays for the coach

Just very odd roster choices instead of going with the best players.

 

[zenator]

so dumb not taking Yakemchuk esp with the tournament being in Ottawa

Just my opinion but his skill would help

I agree, and the same can be said for Parekh (minus the Ottawa angle).

If they're worried about an offensive guy's defense, make him the 6 or 7 D who plays like 8 minutes or less ES, playing more in the 3rd if the team is trailing, and anchoring the #1 PP. As if Canada's pedestrian PP couldn't use Parekh's wizardry, vision, and master of passing angles, or Yakemchuk's bomb of a shot, or offensive IQ that creates high danger chances.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

hes worthy to be on the roster though. I am not talking about a guy who is completely no one. Its just an obvious pick imo. It is actually a much better reason than having a guy like Pinelli cause he plays for the coach

Just very odd roster choices instead of going with the best players.

I think he should have at the very least had a chance to make the team. Him being drafted by Ottawa means nothing to that. It shouldn’t anyways.

 

[Boonk]

Celebrini is Canadian, but he’s been playing in the U.S. since he was 14 or younger. It is a stretch to credit Canada for “producing” him even though he plays for Canada internationally.

Jack and Quinn Hughes both grew up in Ontario playing in the GTHL, Sanderson played his minor hockey in Calgary, Emery played his in Burnaby, and Gabe Perrault was born in Quebec.

With your logic, the US produced exactly zero of those guys because they were born here or played in Canada for some time, which is a plain bad argument LOL.

 

[PaulD]

Canada looks like a good team not a great team.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Canada looks like a good team not a great team.

In typical years they're easily able to play tight but they start to eventually pull away in games, like they didn't against Latvia and Germany.

They also take way too many stupid penalties.

So far I like George, Gibson, Dickinson, Yager, Ritchie, Bonk, Molendyk, Luchanko and Catton.

And of course McKenna - kids got stud written all over him.

 

[NyQuil]

In typical years they're easily able to play tight but they start to eventually pull away in games, like they didn't against Latvia and Germany.

They also take way too many stupid penalties.

So far I like George, Gibson, Dickinson, Yager, Ritchie, Bonk, Molendyk, Luchanko and Catton.

And of course McKenna - kids got stud written all over him.

Schaefer too, poor guy.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Canada looks like a good team not a great team.

So does every other favorite. It looks like wide open this year. The thing about Canada is I think they have the capacity to lock down defensively and find another gear offensively. It wouldn't surprise me if after a middling start they end up winning gold.

 

[JackSlater]

One thing I would watch for is Dickinson handling the puck near his own blueline. He's coughed it up multiple times and that's the kind of thing the American team seems to feast on so far.

So does every other favorite. It looks like wide open this year. The thing about Canada is I think they have the capacity to lock down defensively and find another gear offensively. It wouldn't surprise me if after a middling start they end up winning gold.

It looks very even at the top, though I will wait to see how the Czechs look against Sweden before deciding on them. Regardless of losing to Latvia, Canada has been the best defensive team in the tournament, both in terms of results and for the most part how to team looks. That can change in a hurry though. I am still reminded of some of the 2000s and 90s Canadian teams that won gold playing defensive hockey, though those teams were able to muck it up and grab a few "extra" goals that way most of the time.

My favourite Canadian WJC team is the 2006 team that rode four third lines and Justin Pogge (and a loaded defence) to the gold with an obvious focus on defence. That team found ways to generate offence when it needed to though, and that will be the challenge for this team.

 

[Mooche]

I agree with the sentiment here. None of the contenders have really solidified themselves and all have their own various flaws.

Feels like it's going to be such a wide open KO/medal round.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

We’re going to have what seems like a huge advantage in goaltending against the Americans. And as boring and uninspired as the team has played, they haven’t given up a 5v5 goal yet while the US has looked shaky defensively. Weirdly this could actually be a better matchup for this team than playing an underdog that falls back into a shell to limit all chances.

I highly doubt that. Two game samples are not a good indicator of what’ll happen in the next game when you have years and years of data outside of that.

 

[1440]

Is this stat watching?


Akey+Gibson+Mynio combined as 19YOs: 69 games - 13G, 32A, 45P

Parekh last year as a 17 year old...........: 66 games - 33G, 63A, 96P

Oh, and Parekh won the Memorial Cup.

Like, how bad defensively could he really be, compared to a bunch of other 19 year olds?

It doesn’t matter If all he’s there to do is play PP, like Ryan Ellis did for what, three tourneys in a row - you take the best offensive defenseman in the country.

And if you don’t, congratulations, you outthought yourself.

Mynio has 19 in 18 games this year (10 PP points) on the second worst team in the WHL. He is his team's leading scorer (in PPG) and doesn't play with a single forward scoring over a point per game. Seattle has scored 99 goals in 35 games (2.8 goals/game)

Parekh has 40 points in 30 games (17 PP points) on the second highest scoring team in the OHL with 151 in 35 games (4.3 goals/game). He plays with four forwards over PPG including the league's leading scorer (Misa).

Put Mynio in Saginaw for 30 games and his 1.06 PPG pace and 0.56 poweplay points per game pace in Seattle would be worth 49 points with 26 PP points. Yes, Parekh is responsible for some of his team's scoring prowess, so this isn't a perfect comparison, but there is a strong argument to be made that Mynio is the better offensive player right now, and no question that he is the better PP quarterback given that Parekh has also but up a 0.56 powerplay points per game pace on a much higher scoring Spirit team.

I can see the argument that Parekh is the better prospect given that he is 10 months younger than Mynio, but at this point Mynio is by far the stronger defensive player as well as very likely the more offensively productive player taking into account the quality of his team.

 

[wetcoast]

Early look at our 2034 Spengler Cup Team Canada.

I wonder if there are more than a hand full of Canadians who played both in the WJC and Spengler Cup, maybe you have a list handy?

 

[NyQuil]

I wonder if there are more than a hand full of Canadians who played both in the WJC nd spengler Cup, maybe you have a list handy?

I mean, Joe Thornton and Rick Nash played for Davos at the Spengler.

But even when not counting NHL lockout rosters in Europe, I think you would be surprised.

A lot of offensive guys who couldn’t cut it in the NHL, or middling veterans, find their way to the European leagues and Team Canada at the Spengler.

Just looking at the last couple of years, you’ve got guys like Nathan Beaulieu, Sam Gagner, Dillon Heatherington, Chris DiDomenico, Ty Smith, Tyler Ennis, Zach Fucale etc.

 

[wetcoast]

I mean, Joe Thornton and Rick Nash played for Davos at the Spengler.

But even when not counting NHL lockout rosters in Europe I think you would be surprised.

Ya I wouldn't call the lockout guys a real metric here.

A lot of offensive guys who couldn’t cut it in the NHL find their way to the European leagues and Team Canada at the Spengler.

Just looking at the last couple of years, you’ve got guys like Nathan Beaulieu, Sam Gagner, Dylan Heatherington.

Man I remember Sam Gagner but not the other 2 would have to look them up they are so obscure.

But I guess post salary cap there are going to be more guys like Ganger who were stars in junior but didn't have the wheels to really play the same role in the NHL..... except for that one game by Sam.

 

[JackSlater]

I wonder if there are more than a hand full of Canadians who played both in the WJC and Spengler Cup, maybe you have a list handy?

I watched some of the game.today and both JC Lipon and Madison Bowey were playing. Lots of WJC players from Camada make their way over to Europe or play that tournament via the AHL.

 

[NyQuil]

Man I remember Sam Gagner but not the other 2 would have to look them up they are so obscure.

I added a few more names.

They’re not all at the top of my head.

A lot of WJC guys don’t end up as stars, and European hockey where you earn a good salary and they pay for your rent is a really good deal.

What I like about the Spengler is that Team Canada does have the advantage of drawing from many teams (except for those already in the Spengler) but they have to gel very quickly against the much more established competition.

 

[slobbergob]

The offence is so disjointed. I'm growing tired of watching players try and go 1 on 3 or 1 on 4 over and over, only to fire a bad shot into a shin pad. They desperately need somebody to start making plays. I'd separate Cowan and Ritchie. Neither have been bad per se, but I don't think they work well off each other. Ritchie's made some bad passes trying to force pucks to Cowan and Cowan doesn't seem to want to do anything but take bad shots.

I do think the offense will be better against the Americans. Latvia, Germany and to a lesser extent Finland were all more than happy to just clog the middle and let Canada fire of 20+ low quality shots into the crowd. The US will push more for offense of their own.