Preds Prospects Matthew Wood, Tanner Molendyk Invited to Canadian National Junior Team Selection Camp

Nashville Predators 2023 first-round picks Matthew Wood and Tanner Molendyk could represent their home country at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship after being invited to Team Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp on Tuesday. 

Wood, selected 15th overall by the Predators at this year’s draft, leads his University of Connecticut Huskies club in points (12) and goals (7) after 17 games.

The Nanaimo, British Columbia, native has worn the maple leaf on the world stage twice before with Canada’s U-18 national team, most recently posting 13 points (7g-6a) in seven games, en route to a bronze medal at the 2023 U-18 World Juniors.

Molendyk, taken 24th overall, leads all Saskatoon Blades blueliners in points, goals and assists (4g-23a-27pts) after 23 games. Additionally, Molendyk leads the Blades and is third among all WHL blueliners in plus-minus (+20).

This would be the McBride, British Columbia, native’s first appearance with Team Canada at a World Junior Championship.

Wood and Molendyk will compete for their roster spots from Dec. 10-13 in Oakville, Ontario, during a number of camp practices and a two-game finale against a U SPORTS all-star squad. Both games - Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. CT and Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. CT - can be streamed on HockeyCanada.ca.

If either prospect makes the cut, they’ll head to Gothenburg, Sweden to compete with Team Canada at the World Juniors from Dec. 26 - Jan. 5, with a pre-tournament slate set to begin Dec. 19 in Malmo, Sweden.