Canada will be counting on Alexis Lafreniere for offence at the upcoming world junior hockey championship.

And with the status of some of the other veterans from last yearB次元官网网址檚 team up in the air, add leadership to his to-do list.

The presumptive No. 1 pick at the 2020 NHL draft, Lafreniere was one of 31 players named to the countryB次元官网网址檚 selection camp Monday.

The 18-year-old centre is joined by defencemen Jared McIsaac and Ty Smith, who were also part of the roster that finished a disappointing sixth in Vancouver in Victoria some 11 months ago.

McIsaac, however, has played just one game this season following shoulder surgery, while a trio of 19 year olds from the 2019 squad B次元官网网址� centres Joe Veleno and Barrett Hayton, and defenceman Noah Dobson B次元官网网址� are playing professionally and might not be available for the tournament that begins Dec. 26 in the Czech Republic.

Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 head scout, Brad McEwen, said last yearB次元官网网址檚 experience for Lafreniere, who had one goal in five games as the youngest player on the team, should serve both himself and the program well.

B次元官网网址淯ntil you live it, itB次元官网网址檚 sometimes hard to put it in words or explain what itB次元官网网址檚 all about,B次元官网网址� McEwen said on a conference call. B次元官网网址淗is experience last year and the role he played will only make him stronger going forward. HeB次元官网网址檚 going to be a real good, positive guy for our team.B次元官网网址�

Lafreniere leads the Canadian Hockey League with 59 points (17 goals, 42 assists) in 28 games for the QMJHLB次元官网网址檚 Rimouski Oceanic this season.

B次元官网网址淚 like our group that were a part of it last year,B次元官网网址� added Mark Hunter, who is part of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 brain trust for the 2020 event. B次元官网网址滸ood or bad, itB次元官网网址檚 an experience that they see, the pressure of how to play in certain situations.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 only going to help our group to be able to show (the new players) how to play under pressure and how we, as a group, push together.B次元官网网址�

Four goaltenders, 10 defencemen and 17 forwards will battle for spots on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 roster at the selection camp, which runs Dec. 9 to 12 in Oakville, Ont.

Veleno, who is property of the Detroit Red Wings and currently in the American Hockey League, seems like the most likely of the players eligible to be released to the Canadian team.

Hayton has suited up for 14 games with the Arizona Coyotes this season, while Dobson has played seven times for the New York Islanders. Kirby Dach, 18, was expected to be available, but the No. 3 pick at the 2019 draft has five goals and 10 points in 20 games for the Chicago Blackhawks.

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A trio of 17 year olds were named to MondayB次元官网网址檚 list of 31, including Quiton Byfield, whoB次元官网网址檚 also expected to go high at next JuneB次元官网网址檚 NHL draft, fellow centre Cole Perfetti and defenceman Jamie Drysdale.

Lafreniere was the only 17 year old at last yearB次元官网网址檚 camp, while none were invited the two previous years and just two got the call in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

B次元官网网址淲e felt strongly that they were the best players,B次元官网网址� McEwen said. B次元官网网址�(Regardless) of age, theyB次元官网网址檝e been good, productive players.B次元官网网址�

A six-foot-four, 215-pound member of the OHLB次元官网网址檚 Sudbury Wolves, Byfield has 20 goals and 50 points in 28 games this season, and likely has the best shot at making the team.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a big body that possesses the puck,B次元官网网址� McEwen said. B次元官网网址滺e brings some real qualities with the overall package and skill.B次元官网网址�

Hunter said ByfieldB次元官网网址檚 big frame could set him apart at camp.

B次元官网网址淲e want a big power forward that can do things at high speeds and drive to the net,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e need some bigger bodies that can play heavy with top-end skill.

B次元官网网址淚 want to see him use his feet, strength and skill to do some things that some other smaller skilled players canB次元官网网址檛 do.B次元官网网址�

The crop of defencemen set to compete for roster spots is led by the smooth-skating Bowen Byram, who was picked one spot after Dach by the Colorado Avalanche in June.

Hunter said puck possession will be key on the bigger ice surfaces in the cities of Ostrava and Trinec B次元官网网址� which sit roughly 400 kilometres east of Prague B次元官网网址� when CanadaB次元官网网址檚 tournament starts Boxing Day against the United States.

B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 just throw the puck blindly,B次元官网网址� Hunter said. B次元官网网址漌e really believe weB次元官网网址檝e got good skaters out here that can skate at high speeds and different ways and stop on a dime.B次元官网网址�

Only two of the five goalies invited to the World Junior Summer Showcase in suburban Detroit four months ago B次元官网网址� Olivier Rodrigue and Hunter Jones B次元官网网址� made the cut, with Nico Daws and Joel Hofer getting the call over Colten Ellis, Zachary Emond and Alexis Gravel

Size is clearly a factor in the crease for Canada.

Rodrigue, who appears to be the front-runner, stands six foot one, but Daws is six foot four, while both Jones and Hofer both come in at six foot five.

B次元官网网址淥ur goaltending people from Hockey Canada stamped all four, liked all four, wanted all four,B次元官网网址� Hunter said. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 going to be very competitive.B次元官网网址�

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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