Hockey Canada released its 26-player roster for the upcoming Karjala Cup on Thursday.
The tournament, which will run Nov. 8-12 in Helsinki, Finland and Biel, Switzerland, is being used to evaluate players ahead of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in February.
Team Canada’s roster includes some familiar names, including several former NHLers currently playing overseas.
| No. | Player | Position | Shoots | Height | Weight | DOB | Hometown | Current team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Wojtek Wolski | Forward | L | 6’3 | 220 | 02-24-1986 | Zabrze, POL | Kunlun Red Star (KHL) |
| 9 | Mason Raymond | Forward | L | 6’1 | 179 | 09-17-1985 | Cochrane, Alta. | SC Bern (NLA) |
| 10 | Derek Roy | Forward | L | 5’9 | 187 | 05-04-1983 | Rockland, Ont. | Linköping HC (SHL) |
| 14 | Brandon Kozun | Forward | R | 5’8 | 170 | 03-08-1990 | Calgary, Alta. | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) |
| 15 | Eric O’Dell | Forward | R | 6’1 | 201 | 06-21-1990 | Ottawa, Ont. | HC Sochi (KHL) |
| 17 | Gilbert Brulé | Forward | R | 5’11 | 187 | 01-01-1987 | Edmonton, Alta. | Kunlun Red Star (KHL) |
| 19 | René Bourque | Forward | L | 6’2 | 216 | 12-10-1981 | Lac La Biche, Alta. | Djurgårdens IF (SHL) |
| 20 | Matt Ellison | Forward | R | 5’11 | 200 | 12-08-1983 | Duncan, B.C. | Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) |
| 21 | Quinton Howden | Forward | L | 6’2 | 190 | 01-21-1992 | Oakbank, Man. | Dinamo Minsk (KHL) |
| 22 | Dylan Sikura | Forward | L | 5’11 | 159 | 06-01-1995 | Aurora, Ont. | Northeastern University (HE) |
| 23 | Andrew Ebbett | Forward | L | 5’9 | 176 | 01-02-1983 | Vernon, B.C. | SC Bern (NLA) |
| 25 | Matt Frattin | Forward | R | 6’0 | 205 | 01-03-1988 | Edmonton, Alta. | Barys Astana (KHL) |
| 26 | Christian Thomas | Forward | R | 5’9 | 174 | 05-26-1992 | Toronto, Ont. | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) |
| 29 | Rob Klinkhammer | Forward | R | 6’3 | 214 | 08-12-1986 | Lethbridge, Alta. | Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) |
| 2 | Karl Stollery | Defence | L | 5’11 | 181 | 11-21-1987 | Camrose, Alta. | Dinamo Riga (KHL) |
| 3 | Zach Whitecloud | Defence | R | 6’2 | 209 | 11-28-1996 | Brandon, Man. | Bemidji State University (WCHA) |
| 4 | Chay Genoway | Defence | L | 5’9 | 170 | 12-20-1986 | Morden, Man. | Lada Togliatti (KHL) |
| 5 | Chris Lee | Defence | L | 6’0 | 187 | 10-03-1980 | MacTier, Ont. | Hockey Canada |
| 6 | Maxim Noreau | Defence | R | 6’0 | 198 | 05-24-1987 | Montreal, Que. | SC Bern (NLA) |
| 7 | Simon Després | Defence | L | 6’4 | 218 | 07-27-1991 | Laval, Que. | HC Slovan Bratislava (KHL) |
| 11 | Jesse Blacker | Defence | R | 6’2 | 195 | 04-19-1991 | Toronto,, Ont. | Kunlun Red Star (KHL) |
| 12 | Geoff Kinrade | Defence | L | 6’0 | 185 | 07-29-1985 | Nelson, B.C. | Kunlun Red Star (KHL) |
| 28 | Mat Robinson | Defence | R | 5’10 | 185 | 06-20-1986 | Calgary, Alta. | CSKA Moscow (KHL) |
| 1 | Justin Peters | Goaltender | L | 6’1 | 210 | 08-30-1986 | Blythe, Ont. | Kölner Haie (DEL) |
| 30 | Ben Scrivens | Goaltender | L | 6’2 | 181 | 09-11-1986 | Spruce Grove, Alta. | Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) |
“We are bringing together a group of players who are on our radar for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games as part of our ongoing evaluation process, with the goal of fielding the best possible team next February,” Team Canada general manager Sean Burke said via Thursday’s press release. “These 26 players are part of the larger group that is still under consideration for the Olympic team; 10 of these players were not with us in August in Russia, while others who remain under consideration won’t join us next month due either to their being unavailable, or because we feel we already have a good sense of where they could fit with our team.
“As a management group and coaching staff, our priority is putting the best possible team together, and we will continue to evaluate every Canadian player that’s eligible to represent their country at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games to ensure we give ourselves the best possible chance for success in Korea,” Burke said.
Canada will match up against Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland during the upcoming tournament.
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