11 Ontario Hockey League players have been selected to play for Team Canada in the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship which will start Boxing Day in Calgary and Edmonton. Canada will be looking for revenge as last year was a disappointment losing to Russia while controlling most of the game.
Back in goal this year will be the Niagara Ice Dogs, Mark Visentin. Visentin will be looked at for a huge performance for the upcoming tournament. This year he has played 21 games having a 2.82 GAA including 4 shutouts. He has a big frame which allows him to challenge his shooters.
Backing up Visentin, who will be going into his second WJC, will be Scott Wedgewood from the Plymouth Whalers. Wedgewood has played 21 games this season having 13 wins and 3.08 GAA. He has attended the New Jersey Devils training camps the past few years and hopes to have a bright future in Jersey. He is known for his willingness to battle when he needs to and comes up big when he has too.
The Niagara Ice Dogs have 4 players including one goaltender selected, the three players include: Dougie Hamilton, Freddie Hamilton, and Ryan Strome. All three have been drafted to the NHL. Dougie was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2011 draft. Dougie is a 6'4, 200 pound defenseman. Hamilton's upside is his shot and ability to run the powerplay while playing solid defense. Freddie Hamilton is Dougie's brother. Freddie was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 2010 NHL draft. Freddie likes to look for the pass while cutting into the slot. Ryan Strome was drafted to the New York Islanders, 5th overall in the 2011 NHL draft. Strome is a speedy forward who likes scoring goals and taking the puck wide. Strome will be looked to for his offensive contribution from head coach Don Hay.
Other notable Team Canada selections include Scott Harrington who is the lone London Knight representative. Harrington has 2 goals and 14 assists this year to go along with 26 PIMS. Jamie Oleksiak was selected from the Saginaw Spirit and posses good puck skills to go along with his physical play. Oleksiak also has excellent athleticism.
Captain of the Oshawa Generals Boone Jenner is proud to represent Canada. He will be filling the roll of a two way center who can score goals. This year with the Generals, Boone has 33 points in only 27 games.
Two Barrie Colts, Tanner Pearson and Mark Scheifele, will be looked at for a huge part of Team Canada. Pearson is the only player who has yet to be drafted to an NHL team. This year Pearson has turned on the jets amassing 66 points in 30 games already passing last years totals by 24 points. He grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, playing his minor hockey for the Kitchener Rangers AAA hockey program.
Mark Scheifele also grew up in Kitchener and also played his minor hockey with the Jr Rangers program. Scheifele was drafted 7th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Scheifele possesses great hockey IQ, speed, and vision. On October 19, 2011 the Winnipeg Jets played the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre where he scored his first NHL goal.
Team Canada 2011 will face Finland at Rexall Place in Edmonton on Boxing Day December 26, 2011 at 1:30 p.m.
