Cholowski cut from world junior team
Dennis Cholowski’s dream to play for Canada at the world junior under-20 tournament has ended.
The 19-year-old Prince George Cougars defenceman was among a group of six players Hockey Canada sent back to their junior teams Thursday night.
Cholowski was in the lineup for the Cougars Friday night in Kent, Wash., to play the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Forwards Cole Lind (Kelowna Rockets), Cody Glass (Portland Winterhawks) and Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes) were released, as was defenceman Logan Stanley (Kitchener Rangers) and goalie Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies).
Then on Friday, defencemen Josh Mahura (Regina Pats) and Mario Ferraro (UMass-Amhurst) were released, as well as forwards Tanner Kaspick (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack) and goalie Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires).
Friday’s cuts came less than two hours after Canada wrapped up its selection camp in St. Catharines, Ont., with a 5-2 win over Denmark at Meridian Centre.
The final five cuts reduced the roster to 22, the maximum allowed for the tournament. Team Canada will carry 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goalies. Canada has three returning defenceman who played on silver medal-winning team last year – Jake Bean (Calgary), Kale Clague (Brandon) and Dante Fabbro (Boston University). Victor Mete, on loan from the Montreal Canadiens, is also expected to be on the final roster. Eleven defencemen tried out for the team.
“We need guys that can adapt,” said head coach Dominique Ducharme. “Adapting is sometimes being able to take messages from coaching staff, adjusting to a new team, new teammates. It’s all about adapting and adjusting.”
Lind fought back tears as he spoke with media on Thursday evening in the lobby of the team’s hotel.
“It’s obviously heartbreaking for me,” said Lind, a secondround pick of the Vancouver Canucks in last summer’s NHL draft. “It’s something that’s out of my control. I think I did what I could. I played pretty well.
“I think there are some things I can take away from this both good and bad.”
Harvey, who went undrafted in the 2017 NHL draft, had not been invited to Hockey Canada’s Summer Showcase development camp. But his 2.33 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in 25 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League games caught the attention of team lead Joel Bouchard.
“I’m dealing with it well,” said Harvey, whose impressive play for the Huskies this season earned him an invitation to the selection camp. “It was a tough decision, the coaches told me. I did well, I think, and it was a good experience and I want to thank Hockey Canada for that.”
Goaltender Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips),and forwards Dillon Dube (Kelowna), Michael McLeod (Mississauga Ice Dogs) and Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters) are all back with the team. The final roster must be submitted by Dec. 25.
Canada has pre-tournament games against Czech Republic on Wednesday in London, Ont., and Switzerland on Dec. 22 in Hamilton.
Canada opens the tournament Dec. 26 against Finland.