News release - Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is proud to congratulate six OHL players on being named to Canada's National Junior Team roster for the upcoming 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship to be held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Halifax, N.S. and Moncton, N.B.
The six OHL players are part of a roster consisting of two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards that was selected by Hockey Canada director of player personnel Alan Millar, U20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group James Boyd (Ottawa 67's) and Hockey Canada senior vice-president of hockey operations Scott Salmond. Assistant coach Alan Letang (Sarnia Sting) is part of Team Canada's coaching staff and also provided input.
OHL Players Named to Canada's National Junior Team:
Goaltender:
Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
Defencemen:
Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts/Los Angeles Kings)
Ethan Del Mastro (Mississauga Steelheads)
Jack Matier (Ottawa 67's)
Forwards:
Brennan Othmann (Peterborough Petes)
Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs/Seattle Kraken)
Hockey Operations Staff:
Program of Excellence Management Group - James Boyd (Ottawa 67's)
Assistant Coach - Alan Letang (Sarnia Sting)
Strength & Conditioning Coach - Sean Young (Ottawa 67's)
Athletic Therapist - Andy Brown (Owen Sound Attack)
Equipment Manager - Chris Cook (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Security Liaison - Bob Martin (London Knights)
Among the six OHL players chosen, Ethan Del Mastro (Mississauga Steelheads) and Brennan Othmann (Peterborough Petes) were part of Canada's gold medal-winning National Junior Team this past August in Edmonton, Alta.
“We are excited to unveil the 22 players who have earned the opportunity to represent Canada at the World Juniors, as we believe we have assembled a deep and talented roster that will give us the best opportunity to defend gold on home ice,” said Millar. “While there were many difficult decisions to make at selection camp, we want to congratulate our players and their families, and we look forward to them wearing the Maple Leaf with pride in Halifax and Moncton.”
Canada’s National Junior Team will practice at the Garcelon Civic Centre in St. Stephen, N.B., Dec. 14-18, prior to the start of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. It will also face off against Switzerland on Dec. 19, Slovakia on Dec. 21 and Finland on Dec. 23 as part of its pre-tournament schedule.
The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with four games, including Canada taking on Czechia at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax at 7:30 p.m. AT. Canada will also take on Germany, Austria and Sweden to round out the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the bronze and gold medal games on Jan. 5.
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