As the 2020 IIHF World Juniors Championship approaches, Team Canada's roster is stacked with top 2020 prospects and a pool of NHL talent alike.
Last year, Canada served as the host country for the tournament but didn't capture a medal for the first time since 2016. The last time they won gold was in 2018 when they defeated Sweden. In total, Canada has 17 gold medals, the most in the history of the championship.
The 2020 roster features a handful of top players, including projected 2020 first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere, who has proven his worth with 70 points in 32 games already as the captain of the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic.
Here's who else is suiting up for Team Canada, including top names and the full list of invites.
Who is on Canada’s 2020 World Juniors roster?
A total of 31 players were invited to Team Canada's selection camp, which began on Dec. 9 in Oakville, Ont. Although Moncton Wildcats forward Jakob Pelletier was invited to be a part of Team Canada, he is injured and will not play. Connor Zary, who was invited in place of Pelletier and Benoit-Olivier Groulx were among the roster cuts.
Here's the final roster for Team Canada.
| Name | Position | Hometown | Current Team | NHL Draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton Byfield | Forward | Newmarket, Ont. | Sudbury (OHL) | 2020 Draft |
| Dylan Cozens | Forward | Whitehorse, Yukon | Lethbridge (WHL) | Buffalo (2019) |
| Ty Dellandrea | Forward | Toronto, Ont. | Flint (OHL) | Dallas (2018) |
| Aidan Dudas | Forward | Parry Sound, Ont. | Owen Sound (OHL) | Los Angeles (2018) |
| Nolan Foote | Forward | Denver, Col.* | Kelowna (WHL) | Tampa Bay (2019) |
| Liam Foudy | Forward | Toronto, Ont. | London (OHL) | Columbus (2018) |
| Barrett Hayton | Forward | Kitchener, Ont. | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | Arizona (2018) |
| Alexis Lafreniere | Forward | Saint-Eustache, Que. | Rimouski (QMJHL) | 2020 Draft |
| Raphael Lavoie | Forward | Chambly, Que. | Halifax (QMJHL) | Edmonton (2019) |
| Connor McMichael | Forward | Scarborough, Ont. | London (OHL) | Washington (2019) |
| Dawson Mercer | Forward | Bay Roberts, Nfld. | Drummondville (QMJHL) | 2020 Draft |
| Akil Thomas | Forward | Toronto, Ont. | Niagara (OHL) | Los Angeles (2018) |
| Joe Veleno | Forward | Montreal, Que. | Grand Rapids (AHL) | Detroit (2018) |
| Calen Addison | Defense | Brandon, Man. | Lethbridge (WHL) | Pittsburgh (2018) |
| Kevin Bahl | Defense | New Westminster, B.C. | Ottawa (OHL) | Arizona (2018) |
| Jacob Bernard-Docker | Defense | Canmore, Alta. | North Dakota (NCAA) | Ottawa (2018) |
| Bowen Byram | Defense | Cranbrook, B.C. | Vancouver (WHL) | Colorado (2019) |
| Jamie Drysdale | Defense | Toronto, Ont. | Erie (OHL) | 2020 Draft |
| Jared McIsaac | Defense | Truro, N.S. | Halifax (QMJHL) | Detroit (2018) |
| Ty Smith | Defense | Lloydminster, Sask. | Spokane (WHL) | New Jersey (2018) |
| Nico Daws | Goaltender | Burlington, Ont. | Guelph (OHL) | 2020 Draft |
| Joel Hofer | Goaltender | Winnipeg, Man. | Portland (WHL) | St. Louis (2018) |
| Olivier Rodrigue | Goaltender | Chicoutimi, Que. | Moncton (QMJHL) | Edmonton (2018) |
*Dual citizen
When is Canada’s 2020 World Juniors roster finalized?
Canada's roster will be finalized on Wednesday, Dec. 25, just one day before the team takes on the United States in the first world juniors game.
Who played on Canada's 2019 World Juniors team?
Five of last year's players in Lafreniere, Jared McIsaac, Joe Veleno, Barrett Hayton and Ty Smith will suit up for Canada when the tournament commences on Dec. 26.
What Team Canada players have NHL game experience?
Out of the 31 players on the team's final roster, Hayton is the only one to have NHL regular-season experience so far. He has played in 14 games with the Coyotes this season, posting a goal and four points. He was drafted by Arizona fifth overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Which players are 2020 draft eligible?
There are a total of five players that are eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft. Top prospect Lafreniere, as well as forwards Quinton Byfield, Dawson Mercer, defenseman Jamie Drysdale and goaltender Nico Daws are expected to go in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.