Earlier this week, Junior Team Canada revealed its selection camp invitation list ahead of the holiday tournament and only two QMJHL skaters were on the board: Ethan Gauthier of the Voltigeurs de Drummondville and Mathieu Cataford of the Oceanic from Rimouski.
On the other hand, even before the first skates, permutations are necessary due to some injuries.
Harrison Brunicke, of the Kamloops Blazers, will be absent from the process and Zayne Parekh, of the Saginaw Spirit, is added to ÉCJ’s potential defenders.
The 18-year-old defenseman, drafted by the Calgary Flames with the 9th overall pick last summer, won CHL Defenseman of the Year honors last season with 33 goals and 96 points in 66 parts. He was also on the Memorial Cup championship team.
Representing the maple leaf at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2023, Parekh had three assists in a tournament that crowned Canada gold.
This season in Saginaw, he has 8 goals and 30 points in 23 games.
In total, ten defenders will fight for 7 or 8 positions within ÉCJ.
Canada
