OTTAWA | The only two Quebecers present at the Junior Team Canada selection camp won their bet. Mathieu Cataford and Ethan Gauthier avoided the ax on Friday, at the end of four days of camp.
ÉCJ announced the list of 25 players who would represent the country at the next World Junior Hockey Championship on Friday evening, after the second game against USports, won 2-1 by Canada.
This means that Cataford’s injury, which forced him to miss the first three days of camp, did not harm him in the eyes of Hockey Canada executives.
Inserted into the lineup for the first time, Friday noon, against the university stars of USports, Cataford had a good game alongside Brayden Yager and Tanner Howe, playing with pace and imposing himself in all facets of the game.
It seems that he had been part of Hockey Canada’s plans for some time and some of the team’s leaders had fallen in love with his game during the season. This is also one of the reasons why they took their time before integrating him into the regular group, we are told.
Paid versatility
It therefore seems that his track record is well stocked, from the fact that he was named the most valuable player in the QMJHL last year and his successful appearances with Hockey Canada in the past, this will have weighed more in the eyes of ECJ than the few days of camp in Ottawa.
“I know this player very well. He was with us at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and we saw him during the rookie tournament in the fall and he was very good. He can play any position and in any role. Its versatility is very important to us. He’s so good on faceoffs, too,” assured the one who oversees the under-20 program, Peter Anholt.
For his part, Cataford admitted that the last week was still stressful, especially since he was kept aside for reasons beyond his control.
“I was confident and really happy with the way I played. I gave myself every chance and told myself that whatever happens will happen. I had no regrets. Of course when you arrive at the hotel and you wait after that, it starts to be stressful even if you are confident. But, when I received the news… it seems that I don’t realize it yet,” he said.
Gauthier too
After having a good first match against USports on Thursday, Gauthier did it again on Friday. Alongside Cole Beaudoin and Luca Pinelli, his trio disturbed with their speed and physical play throughout the match.
The Drummondville Voltigeurs forward was also used regularly on the penalty kill.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep well,” he said. I can’t wait to see, but this is news I’ve been waiting for. I went through a lot of stress before hearing it, and it’s a childhood dream come true. I just have to bring my best hockey to help the team win a gold medal. It’s certain that today’s news has relieved the stress and will perhaps help me sleep soundly a little more.”
Entrenched veterans, young people in their place
After earning a spot with the team last year, forward Matthew Wood and goalie Scott Ratzlaff were not selected for the next tournament.
ÉCJ instead decided to trust younger players. Forwards Gavin McKenna (he turns 17 in a week) and Porter Martone (18) as well as defender Matthew Schaefer and goalkeeper Jack Ivankovic, both 17, were selected.
2025 Junior Team Canada
Attackers
Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat, WHL)
Bradly Nadeau (Chicago, LAH)
Brayden Yager (Lethbridge, WHL)
Jett Luchanko (Guelph, OHL)
Luca Pinelli (Ottawa, OHL)
Berkly Catton (Spokane, WHL)
Carson Rehkopf (Brampton, OHL)
Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville, QMJHL)
Calum Ritchie (Oshawa, OHL)
Porter Martone (Brampton, OHL)
Tanner Howe (Calgary, WHL)
Cole Beaudoin (Barrie, OHL)
Easton Cowan (London, OHL)
Mathieu Cataford (Rimouski, QMJHL)
Defenders
Andrew Gibson (Sault Ste-Marie, OHL)
Sam Dickinson (London, OHL)
Caden Price (Kelowna, WHL)
Oliver Bonk (London, OHL)
Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon, WHL)
Sawyer Mynio (Seattle, WHL)
Beau Akey (Barrie, OHL)
Matthew Schaefer (Érié, OHL)
Guardians
Carson Bjarnason (Brandon, WHL)
Carter George (Owen Sound, OHL)
Jack Ivankovic (Brampton, OHL)
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