Advertisement

Connor McDavid expected to answer world junior call for Canada

Canada's Connor McDavid (17) celebrates his goal against the U.S. at the World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden, December 31, 2013. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk
Canada's Connor McDavid (17) celebrates his goal against the U.S. at the World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden, December 31, 2013. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk

Hockey Canada is banking on Connor McDavid being ready for the world junior championships. It came as no surprise to see the 17-year-old phenom – who turns 18 next month – named to Canada's preliminary world junior roster on Monday.

McDavid, who continues to recover from broke a bone in his hand, is expected to visit a specialist on Dec. 9 in Toronto. He's already been skating with his Ontario Hockey League club, the Erie Otters, and has been able to make light passes despite a cast on his right hand.

As one of seven returnees from last year's fourth-place finish in Malmo, Sweden, McDavid was a lock to make the team though there was some concern over the timing of his injury. Hockey Canada has until Dec. 25, a day before the tournament opens on Boxing Day, to submit their roster, but they have the ability to hold one of the 22 roster spots open after that date.

"I really believe that we (have) to wait until the decision is made by the doctor on December 9," said Team Canada head coach Benoit Groulx. "Then we'll have a better idea of what we're going to do with our lines.

"But it's also the same thing for our four NHLers (Jonathan Drouin,  Anthony Duclair, Bo Horvat, and Curtis Lazar). We don't know which ones we're going to get, or if we're going to get one. It's something we're prepared to face and see how it plays out at camp. You know what, if Connor McDavid's joining us on the 20th, we'll be very happy to find him a spot and linemates."

Bruce Hamilton, who is part of Hockey Canada's management group, says conversations with those NHL teams on the loan of players is still ongoing. To date he says only the Florida Panthers have given a firm no on the return of a player — defenceman Aaron Ekblad.

As for the rest of them, Hamilton says they continue to feel "the door is still open" to the possibility of them being loaned for the tournament in Toronto and Montreal.

"From what we've gathering here everything is pretty positive," said Hamilton. "They're listening to us and not saying 'no' right now anyways. Which is far better than it was at this time last year."

Canada's camp will begin on Dec. 11 in Toronto and the final cuts to pare the group down from 29 players to 22 will likely come on Dec. 15, when the team heads to the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines. In Group A along with Canada are reigning world junior champions Finland, the United States, Slovakia and Germany.

Canada opens the tournament on Dec. 26th against Slovakia at 8 p.m. at Montreal's Bell Centre. The team will play the round-robin in Montreal before moving to Toronto for the medal rounds of the tournament.