Candian hockey fans have their eyes glued on the current events in Red Deer, Alberta. Sadly, the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t represented there.
The biggest junior tournament in North America is getting set to take place in Edmonton, Alberta from Dec. 25, 2020 to Jan 5, 2021, the 2021 IIHF World Juniors Championship. The Canadians are holding their selection camp in Red Deer where they have invited 46 players, none of whom are a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
The selection camp began on Saturday and will run through December 13. The WJC pre-tournament will see international action start on Dec. 20. Both the Red Deer selection camp and the big tournament will take place inside their respective cohort bubbles, similar to the ones that the NHL used to run their playoffs.
The majority of the players currently vying for a spot on Team Canada have already been drafted to an NHL club. They include the first two selections in the 2020 draft, Alex Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield. The Toronto Maple Leafs used their only first-round pick in the draft to acquire a Russian player, Rodion Amirov. Their top Canadian pick was William Villeneuve who they picked up in the fourth round at 122nd overall. In 2019, the Leafs didn’t select a single Canadian.
Of the five goaltenders, 26 forwards, and 15 defensemen invited to Canada’s selection camp, only five of them are yet to be drafted. They are goaltender Brett Brochu (OHL), goaltender Taylor Gauthier (WHL), goaltender Tristan Lennox (OHL), center Xavier Simoneau (LHJMQ), and the phenom center Shane Wright (OHL).
Toronto Maple Leafs fans need not worry about the lack of representation at Canada’s camp. Their coffers aren’t bare; they’re only void of elite U20 Canadian prospects. The Leafs have multiple players who could be playing in this year’s tournament.
Team USA will only need to give Nick Robertson a perfunctory glance before they welcome him to their squad. Robertson played on the American’s top line at last year’s WJC. He collected two goals and three assists in five games. Having already improved his game since then, Robertson is sure to make a significant impact this year.
Expect Amirov to join the Russians. He is fresh off winning the Karjala Cup in Finland where he was tied as the tournament’s third top-scorer after recording three goals. Amirov should be a lock on joining Team Russia. With his experience playing for Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL, he can potentially be an impact player in the tournament.
There’s also a strong possibility that Mikhail Abramov could be playing alongside Amirov in Edmonton. Abramov was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft by Toronto. The Russian plays for the Victoriaville Tigres in the QMJHL. Last season, he recorded 35 goals and 41 assists for 76 points in 63 games.
Toronto’s prospect Mikko Kokkonen, who the team picked in the third round of last year’s draft, has already experienced playing in the WJC. He participated in all seven of Findland’s games of last year’s tournament. Kokkonen should be joining U20 Team Suomi for the second time. The defenseman, who scored two goals last year in the tournament, plays for Jukurit of Finland’s Liiga.
Toronto Maple Leafs fans should tune in to the upcoming WJC. Not only is it great hockey and a chance to see the future players of the game but it’s the best chance to see some of these prospects playing live. Even without any Maple Leafs representation, Team Canada is expected to chase it’s 19th all-time gold medal in the tournament. They’ll no doubt be fun to watch.