Huberdeau, Beaulieu Named to Development Camp Roster

This afternoon, Hockey Canada released the roster for their summer development camp, designed to prepare for the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship in Calgary and Edmonton. Two Saint John Sea Dogs are among the 46 players invited to camp; forward Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu. Zach Phillips did not get an invite.

Neither invite should come as a surprise, as Beaulieu also attended last year’s camp, while Huberdeau has torn Canadian junior hockey apart all year. Huberdeau also helped Canada win a gold medal last summer at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial U-18 Tournament, registering three assists in five games. Both players are expected to be high picks, possibly both in the top ten, at next Friday’s NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota.

There are seven players who won silver with Canada in the 2011 WJC invited to camp, including Sean Couturier of the Drummondville Voltiguers. There are nine total QMJHL invitees; goaltender Louis Domingue of the Quebec Remparts, defensemen Jerome Gauthier-Leduc of the Rimouski Oceanic, Brandon Gormley of the Moncton Wildcats, and Martin Lefebvre of the Remparts. Up front, Michael Bournival of the beloved 2012 Memorial Cup host Shawinigan Cataractes and Victoriaville Tigres captain Phillip Danault also made the cut. Montreal Juniors head coach Pascal Vincent will serve as an assistant coach.

At first glance, the odds look pretty good for both Huberdeau and Beaulieu. With Erik Gudbranson returning and Brandon Gormley (who was injured just before the 2011 tournament) both virtually guaranteed spots on the blueline should they remain in junior, Beaulieu will compete with defenders such as Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Murphy, Mark Pysyk, Gauthier-Leduc and Ryan Murray, among others, for the remaining four or five spots.

If Huberdeau is to make the team, one would think he’ll be counted on to generate offense on a scoring line. Returnees Ryan Johansen, Jaden Schwartz and Brett Connolly can be penciled in to three of those positions automatically, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Christian Thomas and Tyler Toffoli are good bets to make this team as well. Huberdeau’s strong two-way game will only help his chances, and adding some beef to his frame this summer, along with a strong start to the year, will go a long way towards locking up a spot on Team Canada.

Summer development camp takes place in Edmonton from August 3^rd-7^th. The final selection camp will be held in December leading up to the beginning of the tournament on Boxing Day, and the Sea Dogs should begin preparing for life without two of their top players during that time period.

Photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet