Four top '15 picks highlight Russia WJC camp roster

Forwards Evgeny Svechnikov and Denis Gurianov, defenseman Ivan Provorov and goaltender Ilya Samsonov, each selected in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft, were among the 29 players invited to Russia's selection camp for possible participation in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Finland.

Three goaltenders, 10 defensemen and 16 forwards were named to the roster for camp, which begins Dec. 13 and includes exhibition games against Kontinental Hockey League member clubs Dynamo and Spartak before the team travels to Helsinki, Finland. Russia, to be coached by Valery Bragin, will also play an exhibition game against Denmark on Dec. 24.

Russia won a silver medal at the 2015 WJC after losing to Canada, 5-4, in the tournament final at Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Jan. 5.

The 2016 WJC will be held Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2016 in Helsinki, Finland. Russia opens play Dec. 26 against Czech Republic in a Group B preliminary-round game. Also in Group B are Slovakia, Finland and Belarus. In Group A are the United States, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland.

Svechnikov (6-foot-2, 199 pounds), chosen No. 19 by the Detroit Red Wings, has 17 goals and 39 points in 27 games with Cape Breton in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2015-16. Gurianov (6-3, 192), selected No. 12 by the Dallas Stars, has two goals and three points in 29 games for Lada Togliatti in the KHL.

Provorov (6-0, 201), picked No. 7 by the Philadelphia Flyers, has five goals and 22 points in 25 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League. Samsonov (6-3, 203), chosen No. 22 by the Washington Capitals, has a 1.87 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in 14 games for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL.

Goaltender Maxim Tretiak (6-3, 220), the 19-year-old grandson of Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Vladislav Tretiak, will likely serve as the third goalie for Russia.

There were 12 NHL drafted players invited to select game and two players, defensemen Dmitri Sergeev (St. Louis Blues) and Damir Sharipzyanov (Los Angeles Kings), signed as undrafted free agents.

Left wing Vladislav Kamenev, selected in the second round (No. 42) of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators, is currently with the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League. Kamenev, who has six goals and 13 points in 20 games, will join the team on Dec. 17.