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Bedard, Wright, Power headline Canada's 25-man world junior roster

Tom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Team Canada has unveiled the 25 players it will take to Alberta for the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship.

The roster features the next two projected first overall NHL draft picks in 17-year-old Shane Wright and 16-year-old Connor Bedard, as well as 2021's No. 1 selection Owen Power.

Bedard is now in an elite company of 16-year-olds who have made the team. Only seven other players were chosen for Canada's world junior squad at that age: Connor McDavid (2014), Sidney Crosby (2004), Jason Spezza (2000), Jay Bouwmeester (2000), Eric Lindros (1990), Bill Campbell (1981), and Wayne Gretzky (1978).

Here's the full roster:

*denotes returning player

Forwards

Player Current team NHL rights
Connor Bedard Regina (WHL) 2023 eligible
Xavier Bourgault Shawinigan (QMJHL) EDM
Mavrik Bourque Shawinigan (QMJHL) DAL
Will Cuylle Windsor (OHL) NYR
Elliot Desnoyers Halifax (QMJHL) PHI
Ridly Greig Brandon (WHL) OTT
Dylan Guenther Edmonton (WHL) ARI
Kent Johnson Michigan (NCAA) CLB
Mason McTavish Peterborough (OHL) ANA
Jake Neighbours Edmonton (WHL) STL
Cole Perfetti* Manitoba (AHL) WPG
Justin Sourdif Vancouver (WHL) FLA
Logan Stankoven Kamloops (WHL) DAL
Shane Wright Kingston (OHL) 2022 eligible

Defense

Player Current team NHL rights
Lukas Cormier Charlottetown (QMJHL) VGK
Kaiden Guhle* Edmonton (WHL) MTL
Carson Lambos Winnipeg (WHL) MIN
Ryan O'Rourke Soo (OHL) MIN
Owen Power Michigan (NCAA) BUF
Donovan Sebrango Grand Rapids (AHL) DET
Ronan Seeley Everett (WHL) CAR
Olen Zellweger Everett (WHL) ANA

Goaltending

Player Current team NHL rights
Brett Brochu London (OHL) 2022 eligible
Sebastian Cossa Edmonton (WHL) DET
Dylan Garand* Kamloops (WHL) NYR

Washington Capitals 2020 first-rounder Hendrix Lapierre is the most notable cut. The 19-year-old center has already played in six NHL games for the Caps this season. Additionally, Canada didn't invite Los Angeles Kings' 2021 eighth overall pick defenseman Brandt Clarke to its training camp.

This squad has no shortage of star power, though, as it features 12 players NHL teams already selected in the draft's first round: Bourgault, Bourque, Greig, Guenther, Johnson, McTavish, Neighbours, Perfetti, Guhle, Lambos, Power, and Cossa.

While the club lacks world junior experience, it isn't short on pro experience. McTavish, Neighbours, and Perfetti have already combined to play 20 games in the league this campaign.

Power, meanwhile, was a key cog in Canada's gold medal victory at the 2021 World Championship.

Canada is coming off a silver-medal result at the 2021 world juniors, as the United States took gold. The team has alternated gold medals in recent years, though, winning in 2018 and 2020, and they're 18-time winners at the event - the most all-time.

The Canadians will open their 2022 tournament on Boxing Day against the Czech Republic.

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