Patrick King

Patrice Cormier leads an unprecedented crop of QMJHL representatives at the junior selection camp.

This year's world junior tournament may have as many as 10 players selected form the QMJHL.

The stereotype of Québec Major Junior Hockey League players is changing.

In a league previously known for producing offensively-gifted forwards and goaltenders with game-stealing abilities, this year's crop represents a new breed. Ten of the 36 players invited to next week's Canadian world junior selection camp hone their skills in the QMJHL and have the ability to win numerous roles within the team.

No more than four QMJHL players represented Canada in any tournament at the annual world juniors the last five years. While none of the spots are spoken for as of yet; one can't help but wonder if this is the year the league enjoys its biggest representation in recent years.

"It goes year to year and that's something a lot of people don't understand when they look at the makeup of rosters," explained Al Murray, head scout of the Canadian world junior team. "We don't go in with any preconceived ideas of having so many from this league or so many from that league. We just want the best players for each of our camps."

The fact is the versatility of the QMJHL players invited to camp means more opportunities than previously seen. It's no secret Hockey Canada targets players for certain roles, and may have been the downfall of previous players who weren't good enough for a role which was their forte in league play.

What we're now seeing are QMJHL players whose abilities lend itself to less traditional roles from previous players of their league.

The list begins with the most obvious invitee: Patrice Cormier. The Rimouski Océanic forward is a virtual lock to make the team after having already won gold in last year's tournament.

A reliable two-way forward who plays a power-forward game, Cormier could now find himself in a scoring role this year. He chipped in a goal and two assists in six games at last year's tournament but given his sound play at both ends of the rink, he could also be a valuable penalty killer.

Cormier is the second of a Rimouski quartet at the 2006 QMJHL draft. The Océanic, who were in full rebuild mode after losing in the Memorial Cup final to the London Knights in 2005, had an unprecedented four of the first eight picks that year. Joining Cormier, the fifth overall pick, at the camp is second overall pick Philippe Cornet and the eighth pick, Jordan Caron.

Alexandre Néron, the sixth overall pick by Rimouski in 2006, was not invited to camp.

Cornet, now of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, is enjoying a breakout campaign with 48 points in 34 games this season. However, the Edmonton Oilers' prospect is a long-shot for a top-six forward role but is more than suitable as a defensive specialist. His head coach in Rouyn-Noranda, André Tourigny, is also serving as an assistant coach on the Canadian team.

Rounding out the Océanic connection is Caron, the first-rounder of the Boston Bruins in last summer's draft. His inclusion on the roster will depend on his willingness to play a well-rounded game but should earn points for his rough and tumble demeanor.

Gabriel Bourque and Luke Adam asserted themselves this season and in the recently completed Subway Super Series. Bourque is a prototypical shutdown centerman while Adam is a big power-forward. Their recent play didn't go unnoticed and earned invitations to the camp.

"(Bourque and Adam) were definitely key guys for us at our summer camp and going and watching them in the first part of the Québec league season," Murray said.

This will be the league's best possibility for representation between the pipes. Montreal Juniors goaltender Jake Allen has been the consensus favourite as starter dating back to last year's selection camp. Allen was the only goaltender last year with the possibility of returning this year and his poise should earn him a spot on the team this time around.

Cape Breton's Olivier Roy, a small but agile 18-year-old, is at his first December selection camp. He has proven himself as a big-game performer in each of his previous two seasons.

The last QMJHL goaltender to represent Canada was Jonathan Bernier in 2008. Bernier is also the only goaltender from his league in any of the previous five tournaments.

Like the glut of forwards, the defensive corps knows how to play in its own end. Val-d'Or Foreurs captain Marco Scandella is auditioning for the all-important shutdown pairing.

Rouyn-Noranda's Nicholas Deslauriers and Moncton's Brandon Gormley will also vie for a spot on the team. Although both are young - Deslauriers is 18 while Gormley is 17 - they should get long looks from the Hockey Canada brass.

"(It's) not a surprise that there's this many players (from the QMJHL) but it wouldn't have surprised me if they would have got beat out by some other real good players across the country," Murray concluded. "We're just looking for the 36 best players when we put together each of our teams and camps."

The versatility and intelligence of those players could make this one of the QMJHL's best represented national teams.