OAKVILLE, Ontario -- The biggest surprise during Hockey Canada’s roster announcement for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship on Wednesday wasn’t necessarily a player who made the team, but one who didn’t.
Jagger Firkus, selected by the Seattle Kraken with the No. 35 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, came into Canada’s training camp earlier this week at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex with expectations from around the hockey world that he would be part of the group that would take to the ice for the team’s first game of the tournament against Finland on Dec. 26.
With 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 29 games for Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League, the 19-year-old has developed a cult following, so much so that the Warriors sell special edition “Firkus Circus” T-shirts if he scores three goals or five points in a game.
Peter Anholt, part of Canada’s Program of Excellence management group, said Firkus’ omission was based on training camp performance.
“I see Jagger so much in the Western Hockey League,” Anholt, the general manager of Lethbridge of the WHL, said. “He’s such a good player. He’s such a competitor. [But] he didn’t play as well here in our camp.
“You know, for me, it was a bit of a surprise. I thought he would have brought more. It didn’t happen for him. That’s the way it goes.”
By naming 12 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies, Canada left one spot open up front for what they hope could be a player who’ll be released by their NHL team for the tournament. Buffalo Sabres wing Zach Benson and Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras are the leading candidates for the final position; if they stay with their teams, one of the final cuts made Wednesday could be recalled.
A decision will come by Dec. 19, the date NHL teams must freeze their rosters.
“We wanted to leave our options open,” Anholt said of the 22-man roster. “There’s still some players available possibly going forward and we just want to leave that open for us.”
Owen Beck is the only player returning from the 2023 gold medal-winning team in Moncton/Halifax. The 19-year-old, selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the No. 33 pick in the 2022 Draft, had one assist in three games for Canada in that tournament.
“I think we have a lot of depth up and down the lineup,” he said. “I think the bottom six is going to be as talented as the top six.
“I think everyone is going to be able to contribute and chip in and play their role effectively.”
That includes forward Macklin Celebrini, the 17-year-old forward with Boston University who made the team after showing versatility by playing both center and wing at training camp. He is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Canada will be aiming to win the gold medal for a third consecutive year, something it hasn’t done since 2009 when it captured its fifth in a row.
ROSTER
Forwards
Owen Beck, 19, Peterborough (OHL), MTL
Nate Danielson, 19, Brandon (WHL), DET
Fraser Minten, 19, Saskatoon (WHL), TOR
Macklin Celebrini, 17, Boston University (NCAA), 2024 Draft
Matthew Wood, 18, University of Connecticut (NCAA), NSH
Carson Rehkopf, 18, Kitchener (OHL), SEA
Owen Allard, 19, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL), 2024 Draft
Jordan Dumais, 19, Halifax (QMJHL), CBJ
Matthew Savoie, 19, Wenatchee (WHL), BUF
Easton Cowan,18, London (OHL), TOR
Conor Geekie, 19, Wenatchee (WHL), ARI
Brayden Yager, 18, Moose Jaw (WHL), PIT
Defensemen
Tristan Luneau, 19, Anaheim (NHL)
Jake Furlong, 19, Halifax (QMJHL), SJS
Noah Warren, 19, Victoriaville (QMJHL), ANA
Oliver Bonk, 18, London (OHL), PHI
Tanner Molendyk, 18, Saskatoon (WHL), NSH
Maveric Lamoureux, 19, Drummondville (QMJHL), ARI
Denton Mateychuk, 19, Moose Jaw (WHL), CBJ
Goalies
Scott Ratzlaff, 18, Seattle (WHL), BUF
Mathis Rousseau, 19, Halifax (QMJHL), 2024 Draft
Samuel St-Hilaire, 19, Sherbrooke (QMJHL), 2024 Draft
