U Sports all-stars to challenge Canadian world junior hockey hopefuls in 2-game exhibition

As the days ticked away in June 2019, Scott Walford knew he needed to sort out his future.

A 2017 third-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, the defenceman went unsigned and became a free agent despite once ranking highly as a prospect.

For the Coquitlam, B.C., native, who had been an assistant captain with the Western Hockey League's Saskatoon Blades and Victoria Royals, it left a void in his career. He sought other pro opportunities, but nothing came to fruition. Eventually, he took to McGill University in U Sports.

Walford and 21 other U Sports men's hockey players will swap their school colours for all-star team sweaters between Dec. 12-13 in Oakville, Ont., taking part in a two-game exhibition series as part of Hockey Canada's world junior hockey championship selection camp ahead of the tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

It's the second time Walford will represent a selected team as a university player after winning gold with Team Canada at the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games in January. 10 others from that team have also made the all-star roster. 

Yet, for Walford to reach the status of one of U Sports' best, it took a challenging first two years at McGill. His first year fell gameless due to COVID-19, while his second saw McGill struggle throughout the season's first half, up until a 7-4 win over Concordia University in December 2021. 

"I thought I had played my best game of the first half of that season against Concordia, and it felt like I wasn't second-guessing or overthinking things as I was before," the now 24-year-old added. "It was almost a relief to know that I still had my game, and that set me up for the second half."

The exhibition selection camp games offer ample challenge to the