How Team Canada Is Picked for the World Juniors

Hockey Canada runs the Program of Excellence, the structure that selects and prepares Canada's national junior team. Both coaches and players are chosen well before the tournament.

Naming the head coach

Hockey Canada typically names the head coach for the upcoming World Juniors months in advance, often during the previous season. The coach is almost always a current CHL head coach. Hockey Canada's hockey operations group, with input from the Player Personnel committee, makes the choice based on track record, fit with the program, and willingness to take on the time commitment.

Building the staff

The head coach helps choose two or three assistant coaches (often other CHL or NCAA head coaches), a goaltending coach, and video and analytics support. The general manager for Team Canada at the WJC is typically a Hockey Canada staff member or a CHL executive serving on the Program of Excellence.

Player long list and selection camp

Hockey Canada's scouting staff tracks eligible players (under 20 as of the tournament year) all season. A long list of around 40 players forms by November. From that list, Hockey Canada invites about 32 to a selection camp in mid-December. The camp runs four to six days with practices, intra-squad scrimmages, and exhibition games against a U Sports All-Star team or a visiting national side.

The final cut

• Final roster is around 22 to 25 players (forwards, defencemen, three goalies).
• The coaching staff and Player Personnel group make the final decisions together.
• NHL-contracted teenagers may be loaned by their parent clubs; the parent club has the final say on availability.
• European-based or NCAA Canadians are also eligible, and selection camp invites cross all leagues.