Top draft prospect Macklin Celebrini headlines Canada's world junior roster
CBC
Macklin Celebrini will be on the plane to Sweden.
The 17-year-old presumptive No. 1 pick at June's NHL draft was named to Canada's 22-player roster announced Wednesday for the 2024 world junior hockey championship.
"Huge honour," said a beaming Celebrini. "Like every kid, it's their dream."
The smooth-skating centre from Vancouver sits second in the NCAA with 10 goals and 25 points in 15 games this season for Boston University.
"I was surprised at how good he was," Hockey Canada executive Scott Salmond, who has scouted the phenom at different levels, said following the team's selection camp.
"For a young player, at 17 years old, to play the way he did here is exciting."
Celebrini is part of a group led by three teammates with NHL experience — forwards Owen Beck and Fraser Minten, and defenceman Tristan Luneau — set to compete at the under-20 showcase, which runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Owen Allard, Easton Cowan, Nate Danielson, Jordan Dumais, Conor Geekie, Carson Rehkopf, Matthew Savoie, Matthew Wood and Brayden Yager round out the forward group.
"It's pretty special," Geekie said. "A lot of emotions."
Denver Barkey, Jagger Firkus, Paul Ludwinski and Markus Vidicek were the cuts up front.
Hockey Canada had the option of keeping a 13th forward, but instead chose to leave that spot open in hopes an NHL team will release a player — the most likely candidates are Boston Bruins centre Matthew Poitras and Buffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson — before Canada plays its first exhibition game next week.
"There's still some opportunities," Salmond said. "Still some discussions that are ongoing."
Canada, which has won two straight gold medals and is looking for its first three-peat since 2009, could also recall one of Wednesday's cuts, but Salmond said none of the forwards released were told they're next in line.
"We debated that and debated even going with 13," he said. "That's not fair to the player and I don't even think to the team.
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