National Post (National Edition)

OBVIOUSLY THAT OUTDOOR GAME AGAINST THE U.S. WILL HAVE IMPACT.

- Twitter.com/EricFranci­s

Cal (WHL Kelowna) also nabbed invites.

Calgary Flames draft pick Dillon Dube (WHL Kelowna), Michael McLeod (OHL Mississaug­a) and Taylor Raddysh (OHL Erie) are the returning forwards.

Ottawa Senators picks Alex Formenton (OHL London) and Drake Batherson (QMJHL Cape Breton), as well as Vancouver Canucks selections Jonah Gadjovich (OHL Owen Sound) and Kole Lind (WHL Kelowna), will also be in camp, which starts Tuesday.

Sylvan Lake, Alta., star Tyler Steenberge­n (WHL Swift Current), who has an incredible 35 goals in 27 games, sits second in league scoring with 61 points and will be at camp as the lowest draft pick, selected in the fifth round last year by Arizona.

“I think our strength is depth,” McEwen said of a team that will be coached for the second year in a row by Dominique Ducharme (QMJHL Drummondvi­lle).

“We probably don’t have a generation­al-type player, but we have a real good team. I think we can bring offence from deeper in our lineup and I think in this event that’s the key thing because it’s hard for your top guys to always produce because of the quality opposition.”

OHL leading scorer Jordan Kyrou, of Sarnia, will also be part of Canada’s camp, as will reigning WHL player of the year, Sam Steel, of Regina, who was cut by Canada last year.

One notable player left off the invite list was Owen Tippett, the 10th overall pick this past summer who started the season in the NHL with the Florida Panthers before being returned to the Mississaug­a Steelheads after seven games.

Canada has claimed world junior gold only once in the last eight holiday seasons (2015), a span which has seen five different winners, including three triumphs by the U.S. Prior to that, Canada had won five in a row.

“There are some demands always on Canada, but you never take things for granted,” Smith said of the expectatio­ns heading into the wildly popular tournament.

“We’re not playing in Canada but darn close to it, which is a big challenge. Obviously that outdoor game against the U.S. will have an impact because of where and how it’s played.”

Talk of some of Canada’s top junior players potentiall­y being recruited for the Olympic team was muted Wednesday when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would not stand in the way of Russians participat­ing in the Olympics, which would likely mean he won’t block KHLers from competing.

That would be a relief for Hockey Canada organizers who will likely fill the bulk of the Canadian Olympic team roster with KHL players.

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