National Junior Trouble?

Imagine this scenario.

Team Canada plays its first game at the world junior championships in Ufa, Russia on Boxing Day, presumably registering a victory against Germany.

Then the next day six or more of the team's best players are summoned back to North America to participate in 10-day NHL training camps prior to the commencement of the 2012-13 season, leaving Canada will only a shell of a roster.

It would be national disgrace, and would all but kill Canada's chance of even getting a medal at a tournament it has dominated.

Right now, however, it could happen.

In news broken first by Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos on Friday night, it was revealed that as of Friday afternoon, Hockey Canada has been unable to secure the assurances of a variety of NHL clubs that if their players are chosen to represent Canada at the world juniors, they will be permitted to complete that committment even if the NHL lockout ends.

Players affected could be centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton), centre/left winger Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida), centre Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg), defenceman Dougie Hamilton (Boston), rearguard Ryan Murphy (Carolina), centre Boone Jenner (Columbus), centre Ryan Strome (N.Y. Islanders) and defenceman Morgan Rielly (Toronto).

Of that group, only Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke was willing to say that if Rielly accompanies the team to Finland for pre-tournament training, the Leafs would not then pull him back if the lockout ends.

It was initially thought this would only be an issue for Nugent-Hopkins. But now all these clubs are proving to be reluctant to commit to leaving the players to skate at the world juniors if picked for the team.

Selection camp for the team opens Tuesday with 36 invitees. Colton Sissons, a right winger with the Kelowna Rockets and a Nashville draft pick, was invited but has had to pull out because of injury.

All the players listed above are viewed as virtual shoo-ins for the team, which is searching for its first gold medal since 2009. However, head coach Steve Spott and other team personnel might have to look at passing over some or all of those junior stars if they cannot be certain they won't be yanked from the team at the last moment.

Once the tournament begin, players on the 23-man roster who can't play cannot be replaced. So if a group of Canadian players was recalled to North America, Spott might end up with fewer than 16 skaters.

The best hope right now for Team Canada organizers might be if NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces the cancellation of another two weeks of games next week. Currently, the league has cancelled games through Dec. 14.

For the past 20 years, the hard and fast rule for the Canadian team has been that to play for Team Canada, players had to be with the squad from the beginning of the selection camp, with no exceptions. However, Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said earlier this week that because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the team because of the NHL lockout, the Canadian juniors might have to consider changing some of those rules.

 

Comments

[Quinten]

I don't think anyone on Hockey Canada has to be too worried... we all know that with Fehr calling the shots this lockout won't end til 2016

[Robert]

Pick the best players available and let the chips fall where they may. If NHL clubs pull players back it's the NHL that takes the kick to the groin. ( love for that to happen ) Besides, the NHL won't play this season or maybe even next. I have it from a regular in the owners suite that there is no intention from the owners to play this season and next year is also doubtful.

[Take That]

I think it's actually MORE exciting to see how Canada will fare. We've won so much that one year means nothing at all. Let's see how deep our team's talent is!! Exciting stuff!!

[Steve]

It doesn't look like the lockout will end any time soon, so what does it matter. I am confident that this "what if" scenario will not be an issue.

And if by some chance it does happen, these guys would be better off playing in a real tournament than doing a week of practice drills, training and scrimmage plays. At least Burke is smart enough to see that.

[Ryan]

A national disgrace? The only country that pays close attention to the junior tournament is Canada, and most Canadians would rather watch the NHL instead of the juniors.

[crippler]

Again Burke does the right thing but will be crucified for doing so....

[Chris]

This is why Burke is GM. He has guaranteed Morgan Rielly a spot with the Canadian Junior team, even if he wouldn't earn it out of selection camp. That commitment by Burke erases the uncertainty surrounding other players. Chances are, Rielly would make the team regardless, but Burke has made that 100%.

[jani7]

Perhaps the IIHF should get their heads out of the sand, acknowledge the predicament Canada, US, Russis and others are in and allow all teams to create a 'Taxi Squad' that could only be drawn on if the NHL recalls Jr age players in the event of a CBA agreement.
This would ensure all countries ice their best possible teams no matter what happens.
If the IIHF does not take this sensible approach, and countries like Canada & US lose many players, then I say just pack up and go home. The tournament would then be a sham and we shouldn't be a part of it.