Huberdeau Named To Canada's WJC Team

As everyone in the country expected, Saint John Sea Dogs captain Jonathan Huberdeau has been named to the Canadian world junior team for a second straight year.

Team Canada announced their roster for the 2013 World Junior Hockey Championship today in Calgary. The full roster can be found here.

“On behalf of Hockey Canada, I want to congratulate the players named to the final roster today, along with their club teams, parents and minor hockey coaches that have helped them reach this level,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior director of hockey operations/national teams, in a release. “Canada is lucky to have many great young players, and these players should be very proud of their achievement today.”

Huberdeau was among six players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to crack this year’s team. Xavier Ouellet (Blainville-Boisbriand), Phillip Danault (Victoriaville), Jonathan Drouin (Halifax), Charles Hudon (Chicoutimi), and Nathan MacKinnon (Halifax) were the others.

MacKinnon and Drouin, both draft eligible, will get plenty of attention. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of roles they have with the team.

Huberdeau is one of six returning players from last year’s bronze medal winning team. The Florida Panthers prospect, who would be in the NHL right now if not for this ridiculous lockout, had a goal and eight assists in six games last year.

The captain of this year’s team has yet to be named but you’ve got to think Huberdeau is very strong candidate. He’s won everything with the Sea Dogs and wore the ‘C’ at times in this summer’s Canada-Russia Challenge.

Canada’s first game at the world juniors is on Boxing Day against Germany.

Other Sea Dogs to play for Team Canada include Chris DiDomenico (2009 - Gold), Simon Despres (2011 - Silver), and Nathan Beaulieu (2012 - Bronze).

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation