Prince Albert’s Braden Schneider will have to wait until next year for his chance to play for Canada at the World Juniors.
The 18-year-old blueliner for the Brandon Wheat Kings was among the cuts from the World Junior Selection Camp in Oakville, Ont. on Thursday evening.
“I’m going to take in everything that I learned this week,” Schneider said during a media scrum. “I’m leaving here with my head held high. I’m happy for the opportunity and hopefully I’ll have a different result next year.
“I thought I did everything that I could and when you look back on it you wish that you could have done more, but I’m glad I had the chance to be selected to be here.”
The other players who were released after a scrimmage with a team of U Sports All-Stars were goaltender Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes), defencemen Peter Diliberatore (Quinnipiac Bobcats) and Thomas Harley (Mississauga Steelheads), and forwards Dylan Holloway (Wisconsin Badgers), Peyton Krebs (Winnipeg Ice), Alex Newhook (Boston College Eagles), Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit) and Connor Zary (Kamloops Blazers)
Canada’s roster, which still needs to be cut down by one forward, now looks like this:
Goalies
- Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
- Joel Hofer (Portland Winterhawks)
- Olivier Rodrigue (Moncton Wildcats)
Defencemen
- Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
- Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)
- Jacob Bernard-Docker (North Dakota Fighting Hawks)
- Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants)
- Jamie Drysdale (Erie Otters)
- Jared McIsaac (Halifax Mooseheads – Part of last year’s team)
- Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs – Part of last year’s team)
Forwards
- Quinton Byfield (Sudbury Wolves)
- Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
- Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
- Aidan Dudas (Owen Sound Attack)
- Nolan Foote (Kelowna Rockets)
- Liam Foudy (London Knights)
- Benoit-Olivier Groulx (Halifax Mooseheads)
- Barrett Hayton (Arizona Coyotes – Part of last year’s team)
- Alexis Lafreniere (Rimouski Oceanic – Part of last year’s team)
- Raphael Lavoie (Halifax Mooseheads)
- Connor McMichael (London Knights)
- Dawson Mercer (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
- Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)
- Joe Veleno (Grand Rapids Griffins – Part of last year’s team)
Dudas’ status is still to be determined as he’s currently out with a hand injury.
The surprise addition of Hayton, who has four points in 14 games for the Coyotes this year after three seasons with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, came partway through Thursday’s final scrimmage.
He is expected to join the team on Friday, while Veleno will meet up with the side in Europe next week.
Two players that could still be loaned out to Canada for the tournament are Chicago Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach and New York Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Blackhawks will make a decision on Dach in the next 24 to 48 hours, while Dobson’s participation won’t be known until the Dec. 19 Christmas roster freeze in the National Hockey League.
If either player were to join the team, Canada would then have to cut two forwards and one defenceman.
The 2020 World Juniors, which will be held in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic, will get underway on Boxing Day.
