Among the 39 players invited, 17 are currently playing in the Western Hockey League, including the Spokane Chiefs’ Jared Cowen who helped Canada earn the silver medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, SK.  Other notables include the WHL’s current leading scorer Linden Vey (Medicine Hat Tigers), first WHL player selected at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft Ryan Johansen (Portland Winterhawks), reigning WHL Defenceman of the Year Tyson Barrie (Kelowna Rockets) and top rated prospect heading into the 2011 NHL Draft Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels).  Over the past 10 years, WHL players have made up over 40% of Team Canada’s National Junior roster, and close to 60% of Team Canada’s defenceman corp. 

WHL Players invited to Team Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp

 

Among the invited, two other returning players – Calvin de Haan (Carp, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) and Ryan Ellis (Freelton, Ont./Windsor, OHL) helped Canada earn the silver medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask. Ellis also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ont.  In addition, thirty-four of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2009 or 2010 NHL Entry Drafts, including eighteen first-round selections and four second-round picks.