Canada set to open selection camp looking for world junior hockey 3-peat

Peter Anholt sees a group craving for an opportunity — finally — in the spotlight.

Many of the players hoping to make Canada's roster for the upcoming world junior hockey championship were hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic's fallout within the sport.

International tournaments cancelled, events postponed or scaled back, dreams and development put on hold.

With the 2024 world juniors — their world juniors — just around the corner, this crop of talent is poised for its moment.

"They didn't have some of the things that other age groups have had because of the COVID situation," said Anholt, the lead member of Canada's management team.

"This is their opportunity to make it their time."

Selection camp for the showcase event that opens Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden, gets going Sunday in Oakville, Ont., with a late-evening skate as players trickle into the Greater Toronto Area.

The 30 hopefuls will then take part in practice sessions throughout Monday ahead of two exhibition games against a squad of university all-stars before the decision-makers trim the roster.

"These are the guys that have been robbed of opportunities," Canada head coach Alan Letang said. "A few have never played at the [under-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup] or put that jersey on for Hockey Canada because of COVID and because of other circumstances. It's a group that's going to be excited.

"A group that feels like, 'Hey, I finally get my moment, my opportunity."'

Canada will fly across the Atlantic Ocean as two-time defending champions — a rapid-fire pair of gold medals in less than five months because of pandemic delays — including last year's dramatic victory in Halifax.

But there's just one returning player from the 2023 event in forward Owen Beck, who