WJC: Team Canada Camp Report

Head coach Brent Sutter and Team Canada held a pre-selection camp in Chase, B.C. last week to determine the roster for the upcoming 2006 U-20 World Junior Championship in Vancouver. Here is a brief rundown on the participants from Guillaume Latendresse, the top player in camp, to surprising cuts such as Devin Setoguchi and Derick Brassard.

Goaltenders

Devan Dubnyk - Inconsistent throughout camp, looked good in some cases and questionable at other times. Did show emotional and mental focus to step up to the plate when needed however.

Julien Ellis - A shaky performance, Ellis appeared to have difficulty with the pressure of the situation and did not look like the same goalie from the summer camp.

Justin Pogge - He was the only netminder that didn't appear to be riding a rollercoaster, and the players all seemed comfortable and relaxed in front of him.

Carey Price - Not showing the same dominance in the WHL as of late and was only average overall here. Missing the optional goalie practice didn't help his cause.

Defensemen

Cam Barker - The lead dog on defense, along with Bourdon, didn't exactly shoot the lights out but made sure to limit breakdowns while he was on the ice.

Luc Bourdon - Clearly one of the best defensemen in camp, Bourdon dictated the play with his skating, passing ability, and physical presence.

Michael Funk - Made a few poor decisions while playing the puck and could not keep up to the higher tempo at this elite level of competition.

Kristopher Letang - This smooth skating d-man showed more hustle and grit than expected, but will also be asked to help produce some offense.

Ryan Parent - Mainly quiet throughout the camp and inter-squad games, not entirely a bad thing, and remained calm under pressure.

Sasha Pokulok - A physical force sometimes, but didn't display the kind of mean streak that officials were hoping for. Must also be mindful to be more conservative in his decisions.

Andy Rogers - Tampa's first-rounder didn't do anything to help or hurt his cause, though his mobility might have been a concern for the seventh spot.

Kris Russell - The powerplay quarterback for Team Canada showed good vision and anticipation, and will be dangerous in the transition game.

Jeff Schultz - Not mean nor nasty enough to warrant a spot in the top seven since that would have been his role as a defensive defenseman.

Marc Staal - Enjoyed a good camp by making smart decisions with and without the puck in the defensive zone.

Logan Stephenson - Played tough and abrasive in his zone and didn't let anyone linger around the net. Conversely, he had some problems handling the speed on the outside.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Looked somewhat out-of-place in every aspect, and just wasn't strong enough in any one area to take a spot in the top seven.

Forwards

Dan Bertram - Created consistent offensive opportunities for himself with his quickness and overall speed, and was also reliable defensively.

Michael Blunden - The large-framed winger produced space and opportunities for his linemates by forcing defensemen to account for him in front of the net.

David Bolland - He showed his craftiness with the puck and found ways to create offense without being a liability defensively.

Dustin Boyd - Had some offensive opportunities and was generally in the right place most of the time. Showed nice grit too - not afraid to mix it up in front of the net.

Derick Brassard - It seemed like he couldn't handle the physical play, but showed some potential offensively. Needs to get stronger to dominate at this level - that was the thinking anyways.

Kyle Chipchura - Emerged as a consummate leader, set the tone for the level of work ethic and took matters into his own hands when necessary.

Kris Chucko - His skating was the only reason he was not picked for the team, because his work ethic and character are undeniable.

Andrew Cogliano - The most dangerous offensive player on the ice with his quickness and playmaking ability - will draw first-line duty.

Blake Comeau - Took matters into his own hands with non-stop hustle and a willingness to pay the price to make plays.

Steve Downie - The sparkplug roamed up and down his wing exacting punishment upon anyone who would draw near.

Angelo Esposito - It is clear that his offensive talent is already here, however the rest of his game needs work to play and conquer this level of competition.

Guillaume Latendresse - The best offensive player on the ice throughout the entire process. Seemed to get a good scoring chance every time he touched the puck.

Bryan Little - He did not disappoint anyone but he also did not make anyone take notice of him either.

Ryan O'Marra - Always reliable on face-offs and in defusing potential scoring chances using his smarts and consistent work ethic.

Benoit Pouliot - Flashed his lethal shot on more than one occasion and seemed to make the players around him better.

Tom Pyatt - Solid, solid, solid - hard to find one thing he did poorly without the puck and always had his feet moving.

Devin Setoguchi - Failed to show best side of any aspect to his game and missed far too many opportunities for a player of his caliber.

Jonathan Toews - At times showed why he's a candidate to go top three in the draft as he made some dazzling moves in the offensive zones.