How Canada decides

We'll never know exactly what goes on behind closed doors or what is said in meetings before announcing the Canadian world junior selection camp roster.

At the end of the day, what we have is one list -- a be-all and end-all confirmation of the names that will compete for the 22 coveted spots on our nation's world junior team. Hockey Canada made their list public on Monday, opening themselves up for criticism and praise, but more often than not, the former over the latter.

Forty-one players will make their way to Calgary, Alta. for the camp held from Dec. 10 to 14. Another list will come out on the last day of camp, one much shorter and one that will open itself up to even more armchair managers. Discussions on this list will heat up over the holidays, and be left for anyone's interpretation in early January when medals are handed out.

But before we dissect the 41 players named to the selection camp - and those who weren't (settle down, Halifax. Nathan MacKinnon will be there next year) - it's worth noting that not even those within Hockey Canada could come to a consensus on all 41 players.

"There's never an agreement," explained head scout, Kevin Prendergast. "One of the things we were aware of is how many good players we have in the country and trying to get down to 41 is difficult enough. There are good players that aren't at the camp and at some point, we have to make a decision as to who we feel are the best players who are going to give us the best opportunity to win. It's never easy in this country to get down to just one team when you have so many good players."

Prendergast confirmed the original list first included approximately 60 names. As they got closer to determining the final 41, at least 10 players narrowly missed. Just as we don't know the discussions they had, we'll never know those other 10-plus names in the running.

What we're left with is, however, a group of players many considered virtual locks for the upcoming camp who won't be present. Near the top of that list is MacKinnon, the dynamic 16-year-old sniper of the Halifax Mooseheads, and rugged Saskatoon Blades captain Duncan Siemens.

Few would have predicted both players would remain with their junior teams instead of heading to Calgary in two weeks. Whether some of the decision makers within Hockey Canada fought for one or both, we will never know, but Prendergast and his management group is more than aware their omissions will be noted.

"Certainly I think over the next couple of days there's a lot of names that are going to surface as to why they're not here or whatever," Prendergast said. "Looking through it, the players we have here, we feel these are the best 41 that are going to give us that opportunity to win."

And that's what it's all about, anyways. Every year there's a debate over which player was wrongfully absent from wearing the maple leaf during the holidays. We only hear of it when Canada comes back with a medal any colour other than gold (or the odd time Canada fails to medal).

This time last year, many asked why Brendan Ranford wasn't named to the selection camp. By the end of November, he was one of the top scorers in junior hockey with 44 points. Ranford didn't even get a passing reference this time around, even though he was still eligible.

Ask anyone in Hockey Canada and they will tell you the importance of a player currently playing well. In a world where results are the only things that matter, Hockey Canada can be excused for adopting a "what have you done for me lately?" mentality.

One trio in the recently completed Subway Super Series took it to heart. The line of Brandon Wheat Kings forwards Mark Stone and Michael Ferland alongside Prince Albert Raider Mark McNeill combined for three of the Western Hockey League team's five goals in a 7-5 loss in Game 6.

"I thought they were outstanding in the game," Prendergast said. "They played well together. They seemed to have good chemistry. They're three big, strong guys who play (well) at both ends of the ice."

In MacKinnon's case, even a strong Subway Super Series wasn't enough to earn his invitation. It's been said in the past that Hockey Canada doesn't look at birth certificates when picking this team, but on Monday, MacKinnon's age may have been the only thing keeping him from heading to Alberta.

"Just overall hockey maturity," Prendergast described as a reason for MacKinnon's omission. "It's a very, very strong, physical game. He's one of those kids - he's going to get his opportunity to play for Canada and he's going to be a great player to watch, but at this point, with the age factor that goes into this tournament, it would be too, too difficult for him to come in right now and be a contributing factor."

For those players that were named to the world junior team, there won't be much time to answer the all-important question.

"It's going to be a short period of time for them to play at the top or at the best of their abilities and it's going to be a quick camp," head coach Don Hay said. "Players have got to come and show us as soon as possible what they can do."

Only then will we know what those players did lately.