5 questions for Canada at World Junior selection camp

Canada will start the process of picking its team for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship when 33 players meet for a four-day selection camp that opens in Ottawa on Tuesday.

Expectations for Canada are higher this year with the tournament being held Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2025 in Ottawa, at Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place.

The players will have practices and two games against the Canadian university (U Sports) all-stars to show why should be on the 23-man tournament roster, which is expected to be announced Friday.

Here are five questions heading into selection camp:

Will Zayne Parekh and Beckett Sennecke be able to take advantage of their opportunities?

Parekh, a Calgary Flames defenseman prospect, and Sennecke, an Anaheim Ducks forward prospect, received late invitations because of the injuries to defenseman Harrison Brunicke (Pittsburgh Penguins) and forward Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs). Cowan will be at camp but will not take part as a precautionary measure, according to Hockey Canada.

Parekh, selected by the Flames with the No. 9 pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, has 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) in 25 games with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League this season. He could bring a more dynamic offensive dimension to Canada's corps of defensemen but the defensive aspect of his game could work against him.

Sennecke, chosen by the Ducks with the No. 3 pick of the 2024 draft, leads Oshawa of the OHL with 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) in 26 games, including a spectacular goal against London on Friday.

Will there be a youth movement?

Canada usually prefers to rely on experience when it comes to the World Juniors, but there could be a few exceptions this year.

Medicine Hat forward Gavin McKenna is a favorite to become the eighth 16-year-old to play for Canada at the WJC, joining Wayne Gretzky (1978), Eric Lindros (1989), Jason Spezza (2000), Jay Bouwmeester (2000), Sidney Crosby (2004), Connor McDavid (2014) and Connor Bedard (2022). He leads the Western Hockey League with 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) in 30 games, and is the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Two potential first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft should have solid chances of making the team. Forward Porter Martone is second in the OHL with 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) in 26 games. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer has 21 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games with Erie of the OHL, and showcased his impressive skating and offensive flair during the CHL USA Prospects Challenge Nov. 26-27.

Each player received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary players to watch list.

Martone's Brampton teammate, goalie Jack Ivankovic, received a B rating from Central Scouting. He's 12-7-1 with a 3.49 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and one shutout in 21 games. He is probably on hand to gain valuable experience for the future.

Has management learned from its mistakes last year?

Canada lost to Czechia in the quarterfinals and finished fifth at the 2024 WJC.

Canada never appeared to come together at any point during that tournament. In particular, there was a lack of commitment, a lack of intensity and a lack of grit. The team's top offensive players didn't produce at the expected level, and secondary scoring also was lacking.

Seven players from last year's tournament are back in camp, but it would be surprising if their spots were secured given how things went in 2024.

Cowan, if healthy, forward Brayden Yager (Winnipeg Jets), and defensemen Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia Flyers) and Tanner Molendyk (Nashville Predators) likely are in good shape to play in the tournament.

Forwards Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) and Matthew Wood (Predators), as well as goaltender Scott Ratzlaff (Buffalo Sabres) likely will need standout performances during camp to earn their spots.

"Whether you were on the team last year or not, we’re starting from scratch," assistant coach Sylvain Favreau said. “We’re focused on a new team, on a new year.”

Will there be a Quebec-born player on the roster?

Forwards Ethan Gauthier (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Mathieu Cataford (Vegas Golden Knights) are the two Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League prospects at the camp. Their best chances to make the team might come in bottom-six roles.

Both players know how to score, however. Cataford leads Rimouski with 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists) in 27 games and Gauthier has 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 24 games with Drummondville.

Favreau knows both players well, having coached Cataford with Halifax from 2021-23 and Gauthier in Drummondville the past two seasons.

"They are both able to play a two-way game, to kill penalties and to bring a physical element," Favreau said. "They can be used in all kinds of ways. Both can score and can provide secondary scoring while being responsible defensively."

Who will be Canada's No. 1 goalie?

Along with Ivankovic and Ratzlaff at camp are Carson Bjarnason (Philadelphia Flyers) and Carter George (Los Angeles Kings). Ratzlaff was the third goalie at the 2024 WJC behind Mathis Rousseau and Samuel St. Hilaire.

Bjarnason has a .913 save percentage in 16 games with Brandon of the WHL, and George has a .905 save percentage and scored a goal in 23 games for Owen Sound of the OHL. They could have the edge on Ratzlaff, who has an .893 save percentage in 20 games for Seattle of the WHL.

But that question might not be answered until Canada takes the ice for its first tournament game, against Finland on Dec. 26.

CANADA WJC SELECTION CAMP ROSTER

GOALIES: Carson Bjarnason, Brandon, WHL (Philadelphia Flyers); Carter George, Owen Sound, OHL (Los Angeles Kings); Jack Ivankovic, Brampton, OHL (2025 draft eligible); Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle, WHL (Buffalo Sabres)

DEFENSEMEN: Cam Allen, Guelph, OHL (Washington Capitals); Beau Akey, Barrie, OHL (Edmonton Oilers); Oliver Bonk, London, OHL (Philadelphia Flyers); Sam Dickinson, London, OHL (San Jose Sharks); Andrew Gibson, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL (Nashville Predators); Tanner Molendyk, Saskatoon, WHL (Nashville Predators); Sawyer Mynio, Seattle, WHL (Vancouver Canucks); Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw, OHL (Calgary Flames); Caden Price, Kelowna, WHL (Seattle Kraken); Matthew Schaefer, Erie, OHL (2025 draft eligible)

FORWARDS: Denver Barkey, London, OHL (Philadelphia Flyers); Cole Beaudoin, Barrie, OHL (Utah Hockey Club); Mathieu Cataford, Rimouski, QMJHL (Vegas Golden Knights); Berkly Catton, Spokane, WHL (Seattle Kraken); *Easton Cowan, London, OHL (Toronto Maple Leafs); Andrew Cristall, Kelowna, WHL (Washington Capitals); Ethan Gauthier, Drummondville, QMJHL (Tampa Bay Lightning); Riley Heidt, Prince George, WHL (Minnesota Wild); Tanner Howe, Calgary, WHL (Pittsburgh Penguins); Jett Luchanko, Guelph, OHL (Philadelphia Flyers); Porter Martone, Brampton, OHL (2025 draft eligible); Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat, WHL (2026 draft eligible); Bradly Nadeau, Chicago, AHL (Carolina Hurricanes); Luca Pinelli, Ottawa, OHL (Columbus Blue Jackets); Carson Rehkopf, Brampton, OHL (Seattle Kraken); Calum Ritchie, Oshawa, OHL (Colorado Avalanche); Beckett Sennecke, Oshawa, OHL (Anaheim Ducks); Matthew Wood, Minnesota, NCAA (Nashville Predators); Brayden Yager, Lethbridge, WHL (Winnipeg Jets)

*- injured and unable to participate