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WHL Regina Pats

Bedard Amongst 22 Players to Represent Canada at 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship

December 12, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


MONCTON, N.B. - Hockey Canada has unveiled the 22 players who will wear the Maple Leaf with Canada's National Junior Team at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, with Pats captain Connor Bedard being named to the squad as the tournament begins Dec. 26-Jan. 5in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B.

Bedard, 17, won gold with Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in both December and in August, where he scored eight goals split between the two tournaments. The North Vancouver, B.C. product leads the WHL in points (64), goals (27), assists (37) and goals per-game (0.96) in just 28 games this season. The 5-foot-10, 185 lb. centre is currently riding a 27 game point-streak with all 64 points during that stretch.

Two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwardswere selected byAlan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, andJames Boyd (Midland, Ont./Ottawa, OHL), the U20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group, with support fromScott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of hockey operations. Head coachDennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL)and assistant coachesStéphane Julien (Shawinigan, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL),Brent Kisio (Calgary, Alta./Lethbridge, WHL)andAlan Letang (Renfrew, Ont./Sarnia, OHL), as well as goaltending consultantKelly Guard (Prince Albert, Sask./Prince Albert, WHL), also provided input.

Among the 22 players are eight players who won a gold medal at the 2022 World Juniors in Edmonton (Bedard, Del Mastro, Gaucher, Ostapchuk, Othmann, Roy, Stankoven, Zellweger).

"We are excited to unveil the 22 players who have earned the opportunity to represent Canada at the World Juniors, as we believe we have assembled a deep and talented roster that will give us the best opportunity to defend gold on home ice," said Millar. "While there were many difficult decisions to make at selection camp, we want to congratulate our players and their families, and we look forward to them wearing the Maple Leaf with pride in Halifax and Moncton."

Canada's National Junior Team will practice at the Garcelon Civic Centre in St. Stephen, N.B.,Dec. 14-18, prior to the start of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. It will also face off against Switzerland on Dec. 19, Slovakia on Dec. 21 and Finland on Dec. 23 as part of itspre-tournament schedule.

The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with four games, including Canada taking on Czechia at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax at 7:30 p.m. AT. Canada will also take on Germany, Austria and Sweden to round out the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the bronze and gold medal games on Jan. 5.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will once again provide extensive coverage of the event, broadcasting all 31 tournament games, as well as all three Team Canada pre-tournament games. TSN Radio will also provide comprehensive tournament coverage.

For more information on the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit the official tournament website at2023.worldjuniors.hockey.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada's National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, TwitterandInstagram.

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