It’s almost time. The season of judging your team’s prospects within a two-week tournament is closing in and participating nations are announcing their camp rosters.
On Thursday, Hockey Canada announced their list of players that have been invited to the selection camp for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships. Among those teenagers are two Philadelphia Flyers prospects in forward Tyson Foerster and defenseman Mason Millman.
Foerster, 18, was the Flyers’ first selection of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft at 23rd overall and recently signed his Entry-Level Contract, earlier this month. While the 19-year-old Millman is still unsigned by the team, the 2019 fourth-round pick is one of 15 defensemen that have been invited.
With all the talent that Canada usually boasts at this tournament, it’s hard to determine whether either young Flyer has a legitimate shot at making the final roster. It’s unfortunate, but with the likes of top-end talent like New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere and Los Angeles Kings’ Quinton Byfield clogging up the forward depth chart, Foerster will need to make quite the impression on the coaching staff to make it through each round of cuts.
Even if 19-year-olds have historically controlled the tournament, Millman faces an uphill battle in making this squad. With established young defenders like Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley and Colorado Avalanche’s Bowen Byram, the London, Ont. native is in tough.
Canada’s camp will begin on Nov. 16 in Red Deer, Alta. and The tournament will take place in a quarantined bubble — similar to the recent NHL playoffs — in Edmonton, Alta. from Dec. 25 to Jan. 5.
