Summer campers: Montreal
World Juniors prospects from Canada, the Czech Republic and Russia take to the ice in Quebec
Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp is set for Aug. 3-8 in Brossard, Montreal and Sherbrooke, Que. Along with the Canadian representatives, the Czechs and Russians will also be in attendance.
All three teams will benefit from a few days of practice in Brossard, before facing off in a series of exhibition games in Montreal and Sherbrooke. The camp will provide Montreal fans with a preview of Team Canada come December, while the Czech Republic and Russia will both play out of Toronto this winter.
CANADA
Players invited: 41, including 11 from the team that finished fourth at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship (goaltender Zachary Fucale; defencemen Chris Bigras, Aaron Ekblad and Josh Morrissey; and forwards Jonathan Drouin, Frédérik Gauthier, Bo Horvat, Curtis Lazar, Connor McDavid, Nic Petan and Sam Reinhart).
2013-14 scoring: 37 skaters had 2,531 points (980G, 1,551A) in 2,265 cumulative regular season games
Players selected at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft: 13
Spotlight player: Sam Reinhart (Buffalo Sabres, 2014, first round, second overall) A natural-born leader, Reinhart possesses all the tools needed to be an elite playmaker. He has an incredibly high hockey IQ and his above-average vision makes him a constant threat in the offensive zone.
Undrafted player to watch: Connor McDavid Despite being just 17, look for McDavid to embrace a leading role with Team Canada; he possesses all the gifts that allow him to excel at every level he plays, all while making those around him better.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Players invited: 23, including six from the team that finished sixth at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship (defenceman David Nemecek; and forwards David Kampf, Ondrej Kase, David Pastrnak, Jakub Vrana and Patrik Zdrahal).
2013-14 scoring: 20 skaters had 487 points (192G, 295A) in 930 cumulative regular season games
Players selected at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft: five
Spotlight player: Jakub Vrana (Washington Capitals, 2014, first round, 13th overall) Vrana is an unselfish player who has a knack for finding the back of the net. Having already played in three U18 world championships and two World Juniors, Vrana has seen it all in international hockey. Undrafted player to watch: Jan Mandat The 19-year-old is the lone player on the Czech roster from the QMJHL, finishing fifth in scoring with the Tigres de Victoriaville last season and racking up more than two points per 60 minutes played.
RUSSIA
Players invited: 29, including three from the team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship (forwards Ivan Barbashev, Pavel Buchnevich and Valentin Zykov).
2013-14 scoring: 26 skaters had 724 points (285G, 438A) in 1,145 cumulative regular season games
Players selected at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft: six
Spotlight player: Vladislav Kamenev (Nashville Predators, 2014, second round, 42nd overall) A 6-foot-2, 203-pound left winger, Kamenev is a prototypical power forward. He is mastering the art of using his body to protect the puck and is fierce when battling for a loose puck along the boards.
Undrafted player to watch: Kirill Pilipenko Along with Kamenev, Pilipenko is the only other 17 year old player invited to Russia’s summer camp. His elusiveness and quick feet make him tough to contain, as do his above-average hands.
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