Off Hockey Canada’s radar, Brett Leason earns his way to selection camp

All it took from the Calgary native to get some recognition was a league-best 27 goals and 60 points on his current 27-game point streak to lead the Western Hockey League in both categories.

“I think he was a real standout in the Russia series, really impressed with his ability to work the puck on the boards, get the puck into his teammates hands, and also his skating,” said Canada head coach Tim Hunter. “I watched him play last year and his skating has really improved in the summer and this season and it’s a big reason he’s a leading scorer in the CHL.”

Leason’s head coach with Prince Albert, Marc Habscheid, says he saw the undrafted right-handed centre making major strides in his game last season after being acquired in a trade with the Tri-City Americans.

“After the (trade) deadline last year you could tell he was right there, one of our better players at the end of last year and had a good playoff, he was right there,” said Habscheid. “Then he had a good summer, trained well. He’s found that level, confidence level and it’s gone real well for him.”

Added Leason: “I got passed over the past two (NHL) drafts so it kind of motivated me to be the best I can. I’m playing with lots of confidence and my coach is just letting me do my thing pretty much.”

The majority of Hockey Canada’s selections for camp come from the Canadian Hockey League, with 29 of the 34 named to camp currently playing in either the WHL, Ontario Hockey League or Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Defencemen Ian Mitchell (Denver), Jacob Bernard-Docker (North Dakota) and Cameron Crotty (Boston University) and forward Shane Bowers (Boston University) are the lone Canadians playing outside the CHL to make the cut.

The Canadian squad will also have forward Gabriel Vilardi joining them at camp. His status was unknown after starting the year on the injured list with the L.A. Kings, but he has recovered and is currently on a conditioning assignment in the American Hockey League.

In total, the OHL leads selection camp with 14 invites. The QMJHL has eight and the WHL has seven.

“Right now the cycle is there’s a lot more skilled forwards in the OHL and we’re excited about that skill,” Hunter said about the camp’s makeup. “But like all players, they have to check the boxes on the style we want to play. They’re no different than anyone else, they need to be flexible in the environment.”

The battle in net will be between Michael DiPietro, Ian Scott and Matthew Villalta.

DiPietro, the front runner for the starting nod in goal, was a late cut from last year’s squad, although he gained some international experience this past summer at the men’s world championship, backing up NHLers Curtis McElhinney and Darcy Kuemper.

Canada will have a large group of new faces in the locker room with only two players returning to defend its gold medal from the 2018 world junior hockey championship.

Forwards Alex Formenton and Maxime Comtois, both 19, are the lone returnees.

Forwards Robert Thomas and Michael Rasmussen were hopefuls for the squad but haven’t been released by their NHL clubs. They still could, though it appears highly unlikely. Hunter says his focus is on the 34 players named to camp.

“Any time you can have returning players it benefits not only them but the group they’re with, sharing their past experiences and guiding them along,” said Hunter. “Right now we just have two and we’re not focusing on anyone else. We’re excited about Alex and Max leading the group and setting the tone at our camp.”

Forward Alexis Lafreniere is the youngest player invited at only 17. He isn’t eligible for the NHL draft until 2020.

Forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan has been invited, but is currently sidelined with an injury. He will be monitored and a decision on his roster spot will be determined ahead of the tournament.

Selection camp, which was announced in Calgary, will take place from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14 in Victoria and will be followed by three exhibition games against a group of U Sports all-stars. Hunter is expected to trim the final roster to 22 players by Dec. 15.

The Canadian team hits the ice on Dec. 26 for its world junior opener against Denmark in a Group A matchup at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. All Group B games will take place at Victoria’s Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

Selection Camp Roster:

Goaltenders (3): Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires), Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders), Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds).

Defencemen (12): Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes), Nicolas Beaudin (Drummondville Voltigeurs), Jacob Bernard-Docker (North Dakota), Evan Bouchard (London Knights), Josh Brook (Moose Jaw Warriors), Cameron Crotty (Boston University), Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan), Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Charlottetown Islanders), Jared McIsaac (Halifax Mooseheads), Ian Mitchell (Denver), Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack), Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs).

Forwards (19): Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Spokane Chiefs), Shane Bowers (Boston University), Maxime Comtois (Drummondville Voltigeurs), Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds), Mackenzie Entwistle (Hamilton Bulldogs), Alex Formenton (London Knights), Liam Foudy (London Knights), Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Cody Glass (Portland Winterhawks), Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Alexis Lafreniere (Rimouski Oceanic), Raphael Lavoie (Halifax Mooseheads), Brett Leason (Prince Albert Raiders), Isaac Ratcliffe (Guelph Storm), Jack Studnicka (Oshawa Generals), Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack), Owen Tippett (Mississauga Steelheads), Joe Veleno (Drummondville Voltigeurs), Gabe Vilardi (L.A. Kings).

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Kyle Cicerella, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Off Hockey Canada’s radar, Brett Leason earns his way to selection camp

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