Canada confident it can fill the void on defence

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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Team Canada's scratches skated at the Downtown Community Arena on Wednesday morning. 

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Team Canada resumes its quest for a gold medal at the World Juniors with some big holes to fill on the blueline. Owen Power, the Buffalo Sabres first-overall pick in the 2021 National Hockey League draft, is not back for the summer tournament. Neither is Montreal Canadiens prospect Kaiden Guhle, who served as captain in December. 

"Losing those guys is tough, but I think the guys we picked up are just as good as them," insisted Grand Rapids Griffins defenceman Donovan Sebrango. "We work hard as a group. I feel as confident as I did at Christmastime."

Jack Thompson and Ethan Del Mastro have joined returning defencemen Sebrango, Olen Zellweger, Ryan O'Rourke, Lukas Cormier, Ronan Seeley and Carson Lambos. 

"We're happy with our D core," said head coach Dave Cameron. "We think we're deep. We have a good mix of size, speed, skill and physicality."

Sebrango, who serves as an alternate captain, will be leaned on.

"I've put on size," the Detroit Red Wings prospect noted. "I've put on 10 pounds since Christmas, and I feel good. I feel strong. I feel ready to go here."

"He's a pro," said Cameron of Sebrango. "He's played pro hockey. When you go pro, your experience is that it's every day. That's the biggest difference between pros and kids coming out of junior is that ability to do it every day whether anyone's watching or not."

Sebrango, who stands 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, has been skating on Canada's top pair alongside Zellweger, who led all Western Hockey League defencemen in scoring last season with 78 points in 55 games.

"He's a special player," said Sebrango. "He's got some of the best hands I've