The Western Hockey League is proud to announce today eight WHL players have been invited to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp, scheduled for Monday, December 9 to Thursday, December 12 in Oakville, Ont.

Five first-round NHL Draft selections headline this year’s representation from the WHL, led by returning defenceman Ty Smith (Lloydminster, Alta. / Spokane Chiefs).

Joining Smith at the National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp are goaltender Joel Hofer (Winnipeg, Man. / Portland Winterhawks), defencemen Calen Addison (Brandon, Man. / Lethbridge Hurricanes), Bowen Byram (Cranbrook, B.C. / Vancouver Giants), Braden Schneider (Prince Albert, Sask. / Brandon Wheat Kings), along with forwards Dylan Cozens (Whitehorse, Yukon / Lethbridge Hurricanes), Nolan Foote (Kelowna, B.C. / Kelowna Rockets), and Peyton Krebs (Okotoks, Alta. / Winnipeg ICE).

WHL Invitees – Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp 

GoaltendersHWDOBHometownWHL ClubNHL
Joel Hofer6’5”1727/30/2000Winnipeg, Man.Portland WinterhawksSTL ’18 (4-107)
Defence
Calen Addison5’10”1804/11/2000Brandon, Man.Lethbridge HurricanesPIT ’18 (2-53)
Bowen Byram6’1”1926/13/2001Cranbrook, B.C.Vancouver GiantsCOL ’19 (1-4)
Braden Schneider6’2”2109/20/2001Prince Albert, Sask.Brandon Wheat KingsEligible 2020
Ty Smith5’11”1753/24/2000Lloydminster, Alta.Spokane ChiefsNJD ’18 (1-17)
Forwards
Dylan Cozens6’3”1852/9/2001Whitehorse, YukonLethbridge HurricanesBUF ‘19 (1-7)
Nolan Foote6’4”20011/29/2000Kelowna, B.C.Kelowna RocketsTBL ’19 (1-27)
Peyton Krebs5’11”1801/26/2001Okotoks, Alta.Winnipeg ICEVGK ‘19
(1-17)

COMPLETE SELECTION CAMP ROSTER

In total, Hockey Canada named four goaltenders, 10 defencemen, and 17 forwards to the 31-man roster.

“After a long evaluation process through summer camp, the early weeks of the CHL season and the Canada-Russia Series, we are nearing the final steps in selecting the roster that will represent Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship,” said Hockey Canada’s Head Scout Brad McEwen. “We are expecting a highly competitive camp from these 31 players, and we know there will be many difficult decisions when it comes time to select the players who will wear the Maple Leaf in the Czech Republic.”

Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp will be held at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, home of the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, and will feature a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on Dec. 11-12. Tickets for selection camp are available at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, starting at $15 plus fees.

The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on the United States at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, will air all 31 games at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, providing wall-to-wall game coverage and analysis throughout the tournament.

Canada has won 31 medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship since 1977, including 17 gold, nine silver and five bronze. Team Canada last took home gold in Buffalo in 2018.