DESPRES MAKES TEAM CANADA

Simon Despres has made history, becoming only the second Saint John Sea Dog in franchise history to make Canada’s national junior team.

After three days of on-ice activity at selection camp in Toronto, Hockey Canada announced the final cuts early this morning. From TSN.ca:

Seventeen-year-olds Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels and Kitchener Rangers defenceman Ryan Murphy were released, along with Everett Silvertips defenceman Ryan Murray.

Both Nugent-Hopkins and Murphy are projected Top 10 selections in next year's NHL draft, while Murray - a 16-year-old - is expected to go high in the 2012 draft.

Ohter skaters going home include Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Pirri, Shawinigan winger Michael Bournival, Notre Dame's Riley Sheahen and defenceman Mark Pysyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Netminders JP Anderson and Calvin Pickard were let go, leaving Olivier Roy and Mark Visentin as the goaltending tandem for this year's squad.

With the final cuts made, Canada now has a 22-man roster for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo, New York. The full roster can be seen on the TSN website as well.

Along with Despres, the defense will feature Jared Cowen, Calvin de Haan, Ryan Ellis, Dylan Olsen, Tyson Barrie and Erik Gudbranson.

Despres had been getting mixed reviews at camp, but seemed to play better last night in an exhibition game against the Canadian University National Team, recording an assist in a 6-2 victory. Stephane Leroux of RDS gave the ‘Big Horse’ an eight-out-of-10 rating for his play.

After getting a long look at Pittsburgh Penguins training camp, Despres has been a beast on the blue line for Saint John this season. The veteran currently sits third in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring among defenseman with nine goals and 17 assists in just 22 games.

Despres will certainly be missed by the Sea Dogs over the next few weeks. If Canada makes it to the Gold Medal final which is on January 5, Despres will miss five games – two against Moncton, two against Bathurst, and one against Prince Edward Island.

The only other player to make Team Canada in Sea Dogs franchise history was Chris DiDomenico back in 2009. Canada won gold that year.

Three other QMJHL players made the squad in Montreal Juniors forward Louis Leblanc, Acadie-Bathurst Titan goaltender Olivier Roy, and Drummondville Voltigeurs star forward Sean Couturier. The province of New Brunswick will be well represented with Couturier being from Bathurst along with a Titan and a Sea Dog on the team.

Canada begins exhibition action this Monday against Switzerland in Oshawa, Ontario. The World Juniors begin on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Team Russia, which could feature Stanislav Galiev. All games – including pre-tournament matches – can be viewed on TSN and TSN2.

Photo Credit: Telegraph-Journal