Oct 26, 2017
Canada names pre-Olympic event roster
Hockey Canada has released its 26-player roster for the upcoming Karjala Cup is it continues to build its first Olympic team without NHL players since 1992.
The Canadian Press
CALGARY — Hockey Canada has released its 26-player roster for the upcoming Karjala Cup is it continues to build its first Olympic team without NHL players since 1992.
Former NHL forwards Rene Bourque, Wojtek Wolski, Mason Raymond and Derek Roy and goaltender Ben Scrivens will lead a group of Canadian players almost entirely based in Europe.
The roster was selected by management and coaching staff of Canada's national men's team, led by general manager Sean Burke and head coach Willie Desjardins, following two week-long competitions in Russia in August.
The Karjala Cup, a warmup tournament ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics, takes place Nov. 8-12 in Helsinki and Biel, Switzerland and will see Canada face off against Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland.
"We are bringing together a group of players who are on our radar for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games as part of our ongoing evaluation process, with the goal of fielding the best possible team next February," Burke said in a statement.
The NHL decided earlier this year not to interrupt its 2017-18 season to allow players to participate in the 2018 Olympics, which will be held February in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Team Canada Pre-Olympic Roster
| No. | Player | SH | HT | WT | Hometown | 2017-18 Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Wojtek Wolski | L | 6'3 | 220 | Zabrze, POL | Kunlun Red Star (KHL) |
| 9 | Mason Raymond | L | 6'1 | 179 | Cochrane, Alta. | SC Bern (NLA) |
| 10 | Derek Roy | L | 5'9 | 187 | Rockland, Ont. | Linköping HC (SHL) |
| 14 | Brandon Kozun | R | 5'8 | 170 | Calgary, Alta. | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) |
| 15 | Eric O’Dell | R | 6'1 | 201 | Ottawa, Ont. | HC Sochi (KHL) |
| 17 | Gilbert Brulé | R | 5'11 | 187 | Edmonton, Alta. | Kunlun Red Star (KHL) |
| 19 | René Bourque | L | 6'2 | 216 | Lac La Biche, Alta. | Djurgårdens IF (SHL) |
| 20 | Matt Ellison | R | 5'11 | 200 | Duncan, B.C. | Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) |
| 21 | Quinton Howden | L | 6'2 | 190 | Oakbank, Man. | Dinamo Minsk (KHL) |
| 22 | Dylan Sikura | L | 5'11 | 159 | Aurora, Ont. | Northeastern University (HE) |
| 23 | Andrew Ebbett | L | 5'9 | 176 | Vernon, B.C. | SC Bern (NLA) |
| 25 | Matt Frattin | R | 6'0 | 205 | Edmonton, Alta. | Barys Astana (KHL) |
| 26 | Christian Thomas | R | 5'9 | 174 | Toronto, Ont. | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) |
| 29 | Rob Klinkhammer | R | 6'3 | 214 | Lethbridge, Alta. | Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) |
| No. | Player | SH | HT | WT | Hometown | 2017-18 Team |
| 2 | Karl Stollery | L | 5'11 | 181 | Camrose, Alta. | Dinamo Riga (KHL) |
| 3 | Zach Whitecloud | R | 6'2 | 209 | Brandon, Man. | Bemidji State University (WCHA) |
| 4 | Chay Genoway | L | 5'9 | 170 | Morden, Man. | Lada Togliatti (KHL) |
| 5 | Chris Lee | L | 6'0 | 187 | MacTier, Ont. | Hockey Canada |
| 6 | Maxim Noreau | R | 6'0 | 198 | Montreal, Que. | SC Bern (NLA) |
| 7 | Simon Després | L | 6'4 | 218 | Laval, Que. | HC Slovan Bratislava (KHL) |
| 11 | Jesse Blacker | R | 6'2 | 195 | Toronto,, Ont. | Kunlun Red Star (KHL) |
| 12 | Geoff Kinrade | L | 6'0 | 185 | Nelson, B.C. | Kunlun Red Star (KHL) |
| 28 | Mat Robinson | R | 5'10 | 185 | Calgary, Alta. | CSKA Moscow (KHL) |
| No. | Player | SH | HT | WT | Hometown | 2017-18 Team |
| 1 | Justin Peters | L | 6'1 | 210 | Blythe, Ont. | Kölner Haie (DEL) |
| 30 | Ben Scrivens | L | 6'2 | 181 | Spruce Grove, Alta. | Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) |