Hockey Canada to hold virtual evaluation camp for national junior team

Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield, two of the top prospects for the 2020 NHL Draft, will be among the players taking part in Hockey Canada's virtual national junior team summer evaluation camp.

The five-day event will be held July 27-31, with a focus on player development through online education.

The camp is the first step in picking the team that will play for Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be held Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2021 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.

In previous years Canada had taken part in the World Junior Summer Showcase, along with the United States, Finland and Sweden. Due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, Hockey Canada announced March 13 it was cancelling all activities until further notice. The U.S. plans on holding the World Junior Summer Showcase from July 24 to Aug. 1 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan but no other teams will be participating.

"We are excited to begin preparations for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship with this group of 41 players and our full staff at our online camp, as we believe we have a good mix of veteran leadership and young talent that are eager to represent Canada during the holiday season," senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada Scott Salmond said.

Lafreniere (6-foot-1, 193 pound), who could be the first player picked at the 2020 draft, was voted the most valuable player and best forward at the 2020 WJC after he scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five games and helped Canada finish first. He also scored one goal in five games at the 2019 WJC.

The forward with Rimouski of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League also was named the Canadian Hockey League Top Draft Prospect of the Year and the CHL Player of the Year. He led the QMJHL with 112 points (35 goals, 77 assists) in 52 games and is No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters for the 2020 draft.

Byfield (6-4, 215), a center with Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League and No. 2 in Central Scouting's final ranking, had one assist in seven games at the 2020 WJC.

Two other highly regarded 2020 draft prospects who helped Canada win the 2020 WJC will be at the camp. Defenseman Jamie Drysdale of Erie in the OHL scored three points (one goal, two assists) and averaged 11:38 of ice time in seven games. He's No. 3 in Central Scouting's final rankings, and the top-rated defensemen. Dawson Mercer (6-foot, 180), a forward with Chicoutimi of the QMJHL, had six shots on goal and averaged 7:18 of ice time in seven games. He's No. 10 in Central Scouting's final ranking.

Also taking part in the virtual camp and returning from the championship team are defenseman Bowen Byram (Colorado Avalanche), and forwards Dylan Cozens (Buffalo Sabres) and Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals).

Seven of the top 10 players in Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters were invited to the camp. In addition to the four players from the 2020 WJC are Saginaw (OHL) center Cole Perfetti (No. 5), Ottawa (OHL) right wing Jack Quinn (No. 7), Prince Albert (Western Hockey League) defenseman Kaiden Guhle (No. 8), and Brandon (WHL) defenseman Braden Schneider (No. 9).

Andre Tourigny of Ottawa will coach Canada at the World Juniors, with Vancouver (WHL) coach Michael Dyck and Saskatoon (WHL) coach Mitch Love announced as assistants. Love and Tourigny were assistants to coach Dale Hunter at the 2020 WJC.

Canada will play in Group A at the 2021 WJC, along with Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Germany, and will play its preliminary-round games at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Group B consists of Russia, Sweden, the United States, the Czech Republic and Austria, and will play its preliminary-round games at Westerner Park Centrium in Red Deer.

CANADA NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM SUMMER EVALUATION CAMP ROSTER

GOALIES: Brett Brochu, London, OHL (2020 draft eligible); Sebastian Cossa, Edmonton, WHL (2021 draft eligible); Dylan Garand, Kamloops, WHL (2020 draft eligible); Taylor Gauthier, Prince George, WHL (2020 draft eligible); Tristan Lennox, Saginaw, OHL (2021 draft eligible)

DEFENSEMEN: Justin Barron, Halifax, QMJHL (2020 draft eligible); \Bowen Byram, Vancouver, WHL (Colorado Avalanche); \Jamie Drysdale, Erie, OHL (2020 draft eligible); Kaiden Guhle, Prince Albert, WHL (2020 draft eligible); Thomas Harley, Mississauga, OHL (Dallas Stars); Kaedan Korczak, Kelowna, WHL (Vegas Golden Knights); Ryan O'Rourke, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL (2020 draft eligible); Matthew Robertson, Edmonton, WHL (New York Rangers); Braden Schneider, Brandon, WHL (2020 draft eligible); Jordan Spence, Moncton, QMJHL (Los Angeles Kings)

FORWARDS: Adam Beckman, Spokane, WHL (Minnesota Wild); Mavrik Bourque, Shawinigan, QMJHL (2020 draft eligible); \Quinton Byfield, Sudbury, OHL (2020 draft eligible); Graeme Clarke, Ottawa, OHL (New Jersey Devils); \Dylan Cozens, Lethbridge, WHL (Buffalo Sabres); Jack Finley, Spokane, WHL (2020 draft eligible); Tyson Foerster, Barrie, OHL (2020 draft eligible); Ridly Greig, Brandon, WHL (2020 draft eligible); Dylan Holloway, Wisconsin, Big Ten (2020 draft eligible); Seth Jarvis, Portland, WHL (2020 draft eligible); Peyton Krebs, Winnipeg, WHL (Vegas Golden Knights); \Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski, QMJHL (2020 draft eligible); Hendrix Lapierre, Chicoutimi, QMJHL (2020 draft eligible); \Connor McMichael, London, OHL (Washington Capitals); *Dawson Mercer, Chicoutimi, QMJHL (2020 draft eligible); Alex Newhook, Boston College, HE (Colorado Avalanche); Jakob Pelletier, Val-d'Or, QMJHL (Calgary Flames); Cole Perfetti, Saginaw, OHL (2020 draft eligible); Jacob Perreault, Sarnia, OHL (2020 draft eligible); Samuel Poulin, Sherbrooke, QMJHL (Pittsburgh Penguins); Jack Quinn, Ottawa, OHL (2020 draft eligible); Jamieson Rees, Sarnia, OHL (Carolina Hurricanes); Ryan Suzuki, Saginaw, OHL (Carolina Hurricanes); Philip Tomasino, Oshawa, OHL (Nashville Predators); Shane Wright, Kingston, OHL (2022 draft eligible); Connor Zary, Kamloops, WHL (2020 draft eligible)

\- played in 2020 WJC*

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