World Junior notebook: Formenton status unknown after right leg injury

VICTORIA, British Columbia --
Alex Formenton
will have further tests done after sustaining an injury to his right leg during an exhibition game as part of Canada's selection camp for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.

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Formenton, an Ottawa Senators forward prospect, was on crutches with a brace on his right knee Thursday, one day after he was injured during Canada's 3-2 shootout win against U Sports at The Q Centre on Wednesday. He was hit just above his right knee while trying to cut around a defender with 14.6 seconds left in overtime. He skated to the bench under his own power but was unable to put much weight on his right leg.
"That's standard protocol to stay off it until we get all of the examinations done," said Shawn Bullock, Hockey Canada director of men's national teams. "We don't want him putting any weight on it until we have used all our tools. … We don't know everything yet. The further examinations in the coming hours will give us further clarity."
Bullock said he's spoken with Formenton's family as well as his junior team, London of Ontario Hockey League, and Senators general manager Pierre Dorion.
"Everyone is informed, waiting for further information," Bullock said.
The 2019 WJC runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, and Formenton, 19, is expected to be a key player for Canada as it attempts to win a second straight championship at the elite under-20 international tournament. He had four points (two goals, two assists) and killed penalties for Canada during the 2018 WJC, and Canada is hoping to use his speed and experience in a more offensive role at the 2019 WJC. Formenton and forward
Max Comtois
(Anaheim Ducks) are the only returning players from last year's team.
"We'd love to have him in our lineup on starting day but we're not going to put a timeline on it right now," Bullock said. "Alex is upbeat, a little more than he was last night. He's in good spirits today and he's excited to get in for further examination to know exactly what we're dealing with.
"Obviously you can't buy experience. He's a guy who was with us last year, a big contributor to our success. He's very meaningful to this team. But the beauty of our country is we have depth."

Studnicka stands out

Forward
Jack Studnicka
(Boston Bruins) scored two goals for Canada on Wednesday.
He displayed his speed and skill on his first goal, splitting the defense at the blue line to create a breakaway and score at 6:26 of the first period. Then he parked himself in the slot to score on a rebound for a power-play goal at 6:13 of the second period.
Studnicka, selected in the second round (No. 53) of the 2017 NHL Draft, showed during the World Junior Summer Showcase in August that he could excel against the best players in his peer group, including a goal and an assist in a 6-5 against the United States. He was matched against a line that included forwards Jack Hughes, expected to be the No. 1 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, and Senators forward Brady Tkachuk.
"It gives me some confidence that I was trusted to play against such high-skilled players," Studnicka said. "Just trying to bring it into this tournament."
His summer confidence has carried into a strong start with Oshawa of the OHL, where he has 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 29 games.
"Jack is a smart hockey player," Canada coach Tim Hunter said. "He's a versatile hockey player. He can play center, he can play wing, he can play up and down your lineup, kill penalties, play on the power play. He's got a high skill level and he is the kind of guy we like. The more Swiss army knives we have, the better off we are going to be."

Shootout plan

Canada forward
Shane Bowers
(Colorado Avalanche) scored in the ninth round of the shootout and goalie
Ian Scott
(Toronto Maple Leafs) stopped Slater Doggett to clinch the victory.
Canada had spent close to 15 minutes at the end of their second practice Tuesday working on shootouts, and Hunter said there will be more shootout work as the tournament draws closer.
"We have goalie specialists and scoring specialists involved, so when we get down to our team we are going to implement a plan and execution," Hunter said.
Scott made 18 saves on 19 shots in 34 minutes after replacing
Michael DiPietro
(Vancouver Canucks) halfway through the game, and stopped six of nine shootout attempts. DiPietro made 18 saves on 19 shots in 30 minutes of ice time.
Matt Villalta
(Los Angeles Kings), playing for the Canadian university team, made 28 saves and stopped five attempts in the shootout.