The camp, which runs through Dec. 13, is the final step to choosing the team that will play for Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The players arrived Monday, but Tuesday was their first day on the ice.
"It's been a long time since a lot of the guys, myself included, have been involved in a really competitive practice," said Byram, a defenseman who was selected No. 4 by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft. "It's getting out there, trying to knock some rust off, get used to some systems that the coaching staff is putting in place; trying to get your feet underneath you."
Byram played last season for Vancouver of the Western Hockey League, which canceled its playoffs March 23 due to the coronavirus.
He is one of six returnees in camp who helped Canada win the 2020 tournament, along with defenseman Jamie Drysdale (Anaheim Ducks, 2020 NHL Draft, No. 6) and forwards Quinton Byfield (Los Angeles Kings, 2020 draft, No. 2), Dylan Cozens (Buffalo Sabres, 2019 draft, No. 7), Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals, 2019 draft, No. 25) and Dawson Mercer (New Jersey Devils, 2020 draft, No. 18).
"There's a lot of things that go into a championship team," Byram said. "I think the biggest thing for me was just how tight-knit a group we were; always hanging out doing things together so it made the trip overseas (to the Czech Republic) a lot of fun. I think that's definitely a big reason why we ended up winning the gold medal."
The 2021 tournament, scheduled for Dec. 25-Jan. 5, is to be played entirely at Rogers Place in Edmonton without fans in attendance in a secure-zone bubble, similar to what the NHL used for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. The IIHF initially was going to have Edmonton and Red Deer as joint hosts.
To ensure the health and safety of all participants and the community, Hockey Canada will be adhering to enhanced measures regarding testing and team protocols.
"With the [COVID-19] protocols, we have to be a little more tedious in our details and make sure that we're keeping each other safe," said forward Kirby Dach (Chicago Blackhawks, 2019 draft, No. 3), one of 26 first-round NHL Draft picks invited to camp. "When we get on the ice, it's back to business as usual. We got to find a way to find a groove here and keep pushing forward, find another gear each and every day."
Forward Jack Quinn (Buffalo Sabres, 2020 draft, No. 8) said, "We're at a hotel about five minutes away (from the arena). Hockey Canada has done a great job of kind of secluding us and making sure we're following all the protocols so it's pretty easy on us."
The selection camp will include practices, three intrasquad games and six games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars before the team enters the bubble in Edmonton.
Byram has already experienced life in a bubble; he was with the Avalanche in Edmonton during the playoffs but did not play. Colorado lost to the Dallas Stars in seven games in the Western Conference Second Round.
"I think if you approach it with a good attitude, it can definitely help your team grow together, and I think that's the goal here with the world junior team," Byram said. "We want to be a tight-knit group, do anything that can help us jell together. Obviously, the end goal is winning a gold medal, so whenever you have the opportunity to represent your country, a chance at winning a gold medal, it's exciting.
"I think that kind of drowns away the thought of being in a bubble."
Canada will be in Group A with Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Germany. Group B consists of the United States, Russia, Sweden, Austria and the Czech Republic. Canada plays its opening game of the round-robin portion against Germany on Dec. 26.
The top four teams in each group are scheduled to play in the quarterfinals Jan. 2. The semifinals are Jan. 4, with the championship and third-place games Jan. 5.
