Nobody knows what's next in the wake of the seemingly endless global pandemic.
Alan Millar, though, is optimistic and hopeful. The week before, Hockey Canada named a list of 35 players for the National Junior Team selection camp and will be reduced down to just 25 for IIHF World Junior Championship 2022 live stream in Red Deer and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Millar was advisor to Team Canada in the lead up to and during during the 2021 World Juniors in the bubble in Edmonton. The team, which ended with a silver medal, had to face numerous issues due to Covid-19 for instance, having to stop the training camp for selection when two players were found to be negative for Covid-19. The Canadians as well as the other teams participating in the 2021 tournament took part in a bare Rogers Place in Edmonton for the duration of the event.
It's exciting... Yes on the Ice. But, in reality it's different without fans.
"I was part of the team one year ago, and we are all aware of the trials and tribulations that came with Covid protocols, isolation, and all that the team was through," says Millar, who, on March 1, 2021, was appointed director of player personal within the Program of Excellence at Hockey Canada. "And when we played in a building that was empty... that was thrilling but in the same way we know that the atmosphere that is in the arena during World Juniors when the tournament is held in Canada is definitely a benefit for our home ice. It's among the most enjoyable atmospheres, not just for hockey but also in all sports and we cannot look forward to that atmosphere in Edmonton on Boxing Day in Edmonton."
Yes fans are returning. They're back. World Juniors are going to appear a bit more normal for the 2022 tournament. This isn't totally normal, but of course. Staff, hockey players managers, and staff are the same to everyone else. They've lived through the outbreak and witnessed the ups and the downs as well as the rapid shifts.
On Friday, more tickets were made available on worldjuniors.hockey. It's not yet known what number of fans will be at the rinks in Red Deer and Edmonton but it's safe to conclude that it will be better than the empty arenas one year back. The atmosphere Millar speaks of is likely to return in some way.
"As we get ready and think about getting together in Calgary December. 9 for the selection camp, putting our group together, and getting prepared for the pre-competition, and before we travel to Edmonton it's good to be thinking about a few routines, and in particular having fans in the stadium," says Millar.
Group A, which includes Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, and Germany and Germany, will play their round-robin tournament in Rogers Place in Edmonton, the home that Connor McDavid designed. Grup B (Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and defending-champion USA) will take to the arena in Peavey Mart Center, home of The WHL's Red Deer Rebels. The tournament begins on December 26 and continues until the gold-medal game on January 5.
The journey to get here is anything but ordinary. The youth hockey clubs in Canada began to play in the fall, which allows for an increased amount of in-person prospecting. However, there was no usual Canada-Russia junior showcase which would have provided Millar and his team an opportunity to meet the best players from all three main junior leagues (the Western Hockey League, Ontario and Quebec major junior hockey leagues).
But, Millar, James Boyd from Canada's management group as well as Dave Cameron, who returns as the team's head coach, are a good team of 35 players that will fight for a spot in the 25-man list. The team includes three goalie eleven defencemen, along with 21 forwards.
"When we look at it as a management team there are two levels we consider," says Millar. "We try to find the top talent to make Our National Junior Team. We recognize that there are plenty of excellent players that aren't mentioned in the present. These players in the future will hopefully be given the chance to be part of our junior squad. Then, we discuss a lot about forming an entire team. James as well as our coach discuss about the reality that this isn't the all-star squad. The process begins with skills and talent however, when we step off the court, we are looking for intangiblessuch as being a good team player and overcoming challenges, the character and leadership."
Cameron The funny and witty former NHL head coach, who is now is the bench boss for the youth Ottawa 67s, offers an excellent illustration of the steps required to win the world junior championship.
"The list is similar to the world's best golfer" the man says. "The bag is filled with various clubs. Sometimes, you'll drive through the middle. If the games get a bit tight the shorter game will prevail, and the intangibles. You're driving to impress, or putt dough. Our roster includes all of those."
Canada hopes to secure the third gold medal it has won in the last five years.
Preliminary Roster
Goalkeepers:
Brett Brochu, OHL London
Sebastian Cossa, WHL Edmonton
Dylan Garand, WHL Kamloops
Defenders:
Lukas Cormier, QMJHL Charlottetown
Kaiden Guhle, WHL Edmonton
Daemon Hunt, WHL Moose Jaw
Vincent Iorio, WHL Brandon
Carson Lambos, WHL Winnipeg
Ryan O'Rourke, OHL Sault Ste. Marie
Owen Power, University of Michigan (Big Ten)
Donovan Sebrango, AHL Grand Rapids
Ronan Seeley, WHL Everett
Jack Thompson, OHL Sudbury
Olen Zellweger, WHL Everett
Forwards:
Connor Bedard, WHL Regina
Xavier Bourgault, QMJHL Shawinigan
Mavrik Bourque, QMJHL Shawinigan
Will Cuylle, OHL Windsor
Zach Dean, QMJHL Gatineau
Elliot Desnoyers, QMJHL Halifax
William Dufour, QMJHL Saint John
Luke Evangelista, OHL London
Jack Finley, WHL Spokane
Ridley Greig, WHL Brandon
Dylan Guenther, WHL Edmonton
Kent Johnson, University of Michigan (Big Ten)
Hendrix Lapierre, QMJHL, Acadie-Bathurst
Mason McTavish, OHL Peterborough
Jake Neighbours, WHL Edmonton
Cole Perfetti, AHL Manitoba
Joshua Roy, QMJHL Sherbrooke
Justin Sourdif, WHL Vancouver
Logan Stankoven, WHL Kamloops
Ryan Tverberg, University of Connecticut (Hockey East)
Shane Wright, OHL Kingston