Simcoe County hockey fans could have plenty to cheer about at this year's world junior championships in the nation's capital over the Christmas holidays.
A pair of Barrie Colts, a city native and a player who lives in Angus during the off-season have all been invited to the Team Canada selection camp, which begins Tuesday at TD Place in Ottawa.
The Canadian Hockey League released its selection camp roster on Monday, which includes Colts forward Cole Beaudoin and defenceman Beau Akey, as well as Brampton Steelheads sniper Carson Rehkopf and Owen Sound Attack goalie Carter George.
Beaudoin, who's 18 and hails from Ottawa, is leading Barrie in scoring this season with 11 goals and 15 helpers in 21 games. He was selected in the first round (24th overall) by the Utah Hockey Club in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, becoming only the team's second draft pick after relocating from Arizona.
Akey, who was drafted 56th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in June 2023, has four goals and 12 assists in 22 games with the Colts this season. The 19-year-old Waterloo native was hampered by injuries last season, playing in only 14 games.
Rehkopf, who was born in Barrie and played his minor hockey here, is among the Ontario Hockey League's top scorers this season. The big winger has 41 points (18G, 23A) in 24 games with Brampton, putting his fifth overall in OHL points. The 19-year-old was selected in the second round (50th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Seattle Kraken. He had two goals and two assists in five games at last year's tournament in Sweden, where Canada fell to Czechia in the quarterfinals.
George, who makes off-season home in Angus, has a 4-11-2-3 record in 21 games this season with Owen Sound. The Thunder Bay native was taken 57th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
“We are excited to announce the 32 players who have earned invitations to selection camp in Ottawa, and begin the road to our ultimate goal of winning a world junior championship gold medal on home ice,” U20 head scout Al Murray said. “This is a talented group of young players that is determined to represent Canada with pride over the holidays, and we expect a highly competitive camp with several difficult decisions when determining our final roster.”
Among the invitees are six players who were named to the roster for the 2024 world junior squad, including Rehkopf, Oliver Bonk, Easton Cowan, Tanner Molendyk, Scott Ratzlaff and Brayden Yager. There are also eight players who won gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, including Beaudoin and George.
At last year’s 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, there were 63 CHL players (including 21 on Team Canada) who either played in the tournament or were a part of their country’s 23-man roster, which represented more than 25 per cent of the players who participated in the 2024 world junior tournament.
Selection camp will include a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. and Dec. 13 at noon.
Following selection camp, Canada’s national junior team will travel to Petawawa, Ont., for a four-day training camp at the Silver Dart Arena from Dec. 15 to Dec. 18, in preparation for the 2025 world juniors. Team Canada will also take on Switzerland, Sweden, and Czechia in pre-tournament action.
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship begins Boxing Day with four games, which includes Canada taking on Finland at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa at 7:30 p.m.
30 CHL PLAYERS INVITED TO CANADA’S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM SELECTION CAMP
(G) Carson Bjarnason (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL)
(G) Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL)
(G) Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads / OHL)
(G) Scott Ratzlaff (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(D) Cameron Allen (Guelph Storm / OHL)
(D) Beau Akey (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(D) Oliver Bonk (London Knights / OHL)
(D) Harrison Brunicke (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
(D) Sam Dickinson (London Knights / OHL)
(D) Andrew Gibson (Soo Greyhounds / OHL)
(D) Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon Blades / WHL)
(D) Sawyer Mynio (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(D) Caden Price (Kelowna Rockets / WHL)
(D) Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters / OHL)
(F) Denver Barkey (London Knights / OHL)
(F) Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(F) Mathieu Cataford (Rimouski Océanic / QMJHL)
(F) Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs / WHL)
(F) Easton Cowan (London Knights / OHL)
(F) Andrew Cristall (Kelowna Rockets / WHL)
(F) Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL)
(F) Riley Heidt (Prince George Cougars / WHL)
(F) Tanner Howe (Calgary Hitmen / WHL)
(F) Jett Luchanko (Guelph Storm / OHL)
(F) Porter Martone (Brampton Steelheads / OHL)
(F) Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL)
(F) Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)
(F) Carson Rehkopf (Brampton Steelheads / OHL)
(F) Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals / OHL)
(F) Brayden Yager (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL)
