WJC Development Camp News & Notes

Summer Development Camp for Canada’s National Junior Team is well underway in Edmonton.

The 47 players attending the camp are split into two squads. Both teams practiced yesterday and today at Rexall Place. The two Saint John Sea Dogs participating – defenseman Nathan Beaulieu and forward Jonathan Huberdeau – are both on Team Red.

The most interesting bit of info from the camp so far is some speculation in the Edmonton Journal that Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant could be joining the team.

With Montreal Juniors coach Pascal Vincent joining Claude Noel’s NHL staff with the Winnipeg Jets, Hockey Canada will be bringing in another assistant for Don Hay from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. It’s possibly Saint John Seadogs coach Gerard Gallant.

According to a Hockey Canada press release, “the National Junior Team policy committee will not be making a decision on his replacement until after the development camp.”

The Vancouver Giants’ Don Hay is the head coach of this year’s team. Two of his three assistants are George Burnett of the Belleville Bulls and Ryan Huska of the Kelowna Rockets.


HUBERDEAU TALK
There is still plenty of talk about Jonathan Huberdeau making the jump to the National Hockey League this season which would make him unavailable for the tournament.

“Great hands and he rises up when you need big goals and elevates his game,” said Tampa Bay Lightning head scout Al Murray, formally of Hockey Canada, to the Edmonton Journal. “He could have been the first player picked in the draft just as easily as Nugent-Hopkins was. He’s bone-rack skinny but he’ll put on weight. We all get heavier. We’re all living proof of that.”

Huberdeau, selected third overall by the Florida Panthers in June’s draft, has been put on a line with Blue Jackets prospect Ryan Johansen and Senators draft choice Mark Stone at camp.

DAY ONE PRACTICE NOTES
Team Red Line Combos and Pairings:

Huberdeau-Johansen-Stone
Spooner-Strome-Connolly
Bournival-Hamilton-Gallagher
Ritchie
Holland 

Gormley-Gudbranson
Beaulieu-Pysyk
Harrington-Lefebvre
Simpson-Ceci
Oleksiak 

Visentin
Domingue

Some tweets from Mike Morreale of NHL.com:

• Well, Memorial Cup MVP Jonathen Huberdeau just popped one home on Domingue.
• Beaulieu paired with Pysyk for the Red Team.... Oleksiak taking Gudbranson's (sick) place alongside Gormley.
• Nathan Beaulieu with a tremendous shot and goal .. top left corner past Domingue.

DAY TWO PRACTICE NOTES
Team Red Line Combos and Pairings:

Huberdeau-Johansen-Stone
Spooner-Strome-Connolly
Bournival-Hamilton-Gallagher
Lessio-Sgarbossa-Ritchie
Holland 

Gormley-Gudbranson
Beaulieu-Pysyk
Harrington-Lefebvre
Simpson-Ceci
Oleksiak 

Visentin
Domingue

Some tweets from Bruce McCurdy of the Cult of Hockey and the Copper & Blue:

• Getting my first glimpses of Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Johansen & Strome. Team Canada deep in talent as usual, though will lose some to NHL.
• Huberdeau in full flight is an impressive sight - long, lean, lots of options at his disposal.

UP NEXT
There is a controlled scrimmage being held tonight at camp. Tomorrow will feature some more practices.

There will be games on Saturday and Sunday.

Photo Credit: Edmonton Journal