Crowded on the ice as Canadian world junior camp kicks off with 33 players

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — There are so many players at Hockey Canada’s world junior championship selection camp that the ice was completely torn up after just one practice, with pucks bouncing over sticks and snow piling up against the goals.

Coach Dominique Ducharme put 32 of his charges through two practices on Tuesday, rotating through four goalies and trying to give 18 forwards and 10 defencemen a good look as he has to narrow the roster down to 22 by Friday.

Only defenceman Dante Fabbro sat out as he nursed an injury.

“It’s going to be interesting to see the battles, because we strongly believe that the 33 guys here have the chance to make this team,” said Ducharme outside Canada’s locker-room at the Meridian Centre. “It’s their job to make us make difficult decisions.

“That’s what we want, for them to force us to make difficult decisions and find the best 22 guys.”

Some of Ducharme’s decisions will be easier than others.

Seven players are returning from last year’s silver-medal roster. Goaltender Carter Hart (Everett), defencemen Jake Bean (Calgary), Kale Clague (Brandon) and Fabbro (Boston University) and forwards Dillon Dube (Kelowna), Michael McLeod (Mississauga) and Taylor Raddysh (Erie) are all back.

Defenceman Victor Mete, who was loaned to Team Canada by the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, is also a safe bet to make the final cut. The 19-year-old Woodbridge, Ont., native has four assists in 27 games with the Canadiens this season.

Hart is Canada’s presumptive starting goaltender. He’s been red-hot for the WHL’s Silvertips this season with a 1.32 GAA and a .961 save percentage.

Canada plays an all-star team from universities across the country today and Thursday before facing Denmark in an exhibition game on Friday.