Vilardi out, Lafreniere in for Team Canada

Team Canada’s roster has been finalized, barring injuries, for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship.

Gabriel Vilardi, a Los Angeles Kings prospect, has been ruled out for the tournament due to a back injury, meaning the final forward spot for Canada will go to QMJHL underager Alexis Lafreniere, a 17-year-old who isn’t eligible for the NHL draft until 2020.

Canada’s seven defencemen and two goalies were decided following last week’s three-game exhibition series against U Sports All-Stars, but there was uncertainty over the forwards with Vilardi and fellow Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs (wrist) recovering from injuries.

There was also potential for two NHL players to be loaned to Canada in forwards Robert Thomas (St. Louis) and Michael Rasmussen (Detroit), but it appears neither of them will be joining the team ahead of today’s deadline.

Reports indicated that Lafreniere would have been the odd-man out if both Anderson-Dolan and Vilardi were healthy enough to represent Canada in the tournament, which begins on Boxing Day in Vancouver and Victoria.

Canada has three more pre-tournament games this week, starting tonight against Switzerland in Victoria. Canada will also face Slovakia in Victoria on Friday and Finland in Vancouver on Sunday, before opening against Denmark in Vancouver next Wednesday.