A pair of Saskatoon Blades who have ties to the Kamloops area have Canada’s team for the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden.
Tanner Molendyk, who played one season of minor hockey with the Thompson Blazers, was one of seven defenceman named to this year’s iteration of Team Canada as they aim to win gold at the annual holiday tournament for the third consecutive year.
“Not everyone gets the opportunity to play for Team Canada and represent their country at the World Juniors,” Molendyk said in an article by the Blades. “You watch that tournament every year growing up and I think it’s super special.”
The 18-year-old Molendyk, a first round pick of the Nashville Predators, has donned the Maple Leaf before at the 2021 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with Team Canada Black.
Former Kamloops Blazers captain Fraser Minten – who was traded to Saskatoon last month – will also don the Maple Leaf. It will be the first taste of international hockey for the 19-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs prospect.
“It’s a goal of mine and been a dream of mine for a few years to get a chance to play there,” Minten said. “In Canada it’s such a big deal. There’s so many families that watch it over Christmas and I know it’s my favourite thing about Christmas.”
“Other than the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Olympics, it’s probably one of the coolest tournaments you can play in as a hockey player.”
Macklin Celebrini, the 17-year-old presumptive first overall pick in next June’s NHL draft has also made Team Canada which features 12 forwards and three goaltenders.
Canada will head to Europe on Thursday, with the first pre-tournament game set for Tuesday against Denmark’s under-25 team.
The Canadians will then meet Switzerland on Dec. 22 and the United States the following day before opening their World Juniors campaign on Boxing Day against Finland in Gothenburg.
Kamloops Blazers Head Coach and General Manager, Shaun Clouston, will serve as an Assistant Coach on Team Canada, making it the fourth consecutive year with some Blazers representation on Canada’s World Junior Team.
And a reminder that Radio NL will carry all of Team Canada’s World Junior games this year.
– With files from The Canadian Press
Meet the 2⃣2⃣ players who will wear the 🍁 at the #WorldJuniors!
Voici les 2⃣2⃣ joueurs qui représenteront le 🇨🇦 au #MondialJunior! pic.twitter.com/V6gTjUD24v
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 13, 2023