Few Sea Dogs connections at WJC

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There won't be much Saint John Sea Dogs flavour at this year's World Junior Hockey Championship.

Forward Maxim Cajkovic was left off Slovakia's submitted roster meaning - unless something unexpected happens - there will be no current Sea Dogs playing in this year's tournament.

No Dávid Boldižár, Enrik Švec and Maxim Čajkovič for Slovakia at the #WJC2019. Čajkovič was a standout at the World Under-18's in April and is a talented prospect for the draft, so this is a disappointment. https://t.co/B4FCakZbVo

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) December 22, 2018

Cajkovic was a top prospect for the 2019 NHL Draft entering the season but has seen his stock fall as the year has moved along. This is another setback for the top pick in the 2018 CHL Import Draft. Hopefully the forward can turn things around in the second half.

Team Canada will have a couple Sea Dogs connections. Former captain Joe Veleno and draft pick Shane Bowers will both be wearing the red and white this year - and the two played on a line together in the team's pre-tournament games.

The Sea Dogs will reportedly trade Bowers' QMJHL rights to Veleno's Drummondville Voltigeurs following the world juniors. Bowers, 19, is currently playing with Boston University.

Former Sea Dogs Ostap Safin of the Halifax Mooseheads and Radim Salda of the Rimouski Oceanic have both been left off the Czech Republic's roster. Safin is injured while Salda was one of the final cuts (although it sounds like Salda could be swapped in if the Czechs choose to do so). Both played for the Czechs at last year's tournament in Buffalo.

The world juniors began today and go until Jan. 6 in Vancouver and Victoria. All games are on TSN.