Canada will be counting on Alexis Lafreniere for offence at the upcoming world junior hockey championship.

And with the status of some of the other veterans from last year91裸聊视频檚 team up in the air, add leadership to his to-do list.

The presumptive No. 1 pick at the 2020 NHL draft, Lafreniere was one of 31 players named to the country91裸聊视频檚 selection camp Monday.

The 18-year-old centre is joined by defencemen Jared McIsaac and Ty Smith, who were also part of the roster that finished a disappointing sixth in Vancouver in Victoria some 11 months ago.

McIsaac, however, has played just one game this season following shoulder surgery, while a trio of 19 year olds from the 2019 squad 91裸聊视频� centres Joe Veleno and Barrett Hayton, and defenceman Noah Dobson 91裸聊视频� are playing professionally and might not be available for the tournament that begins Dec. 26 in the Czech Republic.

Hockey Canada91裸聊视频檚 head scout, Brad McEwen, said last year91裸聊视频檚 experience for Lafreniere, who had one goal in five games as the youngest player on the team, should serve both himself and the program well.

91裸聊视频淯ntil you live it, it91裸聊视频檚 sometimes hard to put it in words or explain what it91裸聊视频檚 all about,91裸聊视频� McEwen said on a conference call. 91裸聊视频淗is experience last year and the role he played will only make him stronger going forward. He91裸聊视频檚 going to be a real good, positive guy for our team.91裸聊视频�

Lafreniere leads the Canadian Hockey League with 59 points (17 goals, 42 assists) in 28 games for the QMJHL91裸聊视频檚 Rimouski Oceanic this season.

91裸聊视频淚 like our group that were a part of it last year,91裸聊视频� added Mark Hunter, who is part of Canada91裸聊视频檚 brain trust for the 2020 event. 91裸聊视频滸ood or bad, it91裸聊视频檚 an experience that they see, the pressure of how to play in certain situations.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 only going to help our group to be able to show (the new players) how to play under pressure and how we, as a group, push together.91裸聊视频�

Four goaltenders, 10 defencemen and 17 forwards will battle for spots on Canada91裸聊视频檚 roster at the selection camp, which runs Dec. 9 to 12 in Oakville, Ont.

Veleno, who is property of the Detroit Red Wings and currently in the American Hockey League, seems like the most likely of the players eligible to be released to the Canadian team.

Hayton has suited up for 14 games with the Arizona Coyotes this season, while Dobson has played seven times for the New York Islanders. Kirby Dach, 18, was expected to be available, but the No. 3 pick at the 2019 draft has five goals and 10 points in 20 games for the Chicago Blackhawks.

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A trio of 17 year olds were named to Monday91裸聊视频檚 list of 31, including Quiton Byfield, who91裸聊视频檚 also expected to go high at next June91裸聊视频檚 NHL draft, fellow centre Cole Perfetti and defenceman Jamie Drysdale.

Lafreniere was the only 17 year old at last year91裸聊视频檚 camp, while none were invited the two previous years and just two got the call in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

91裸聊视频淲e felt strongly that they were the best players,91裸聊视频� McEwen said. 91裸聊视频�(Regardless) of age, they91裸聊视频檝e been good, productive players.91裸聊视频�

A six-foot-four, 215-pound member of the OHL91裸聊视频檚 Sudbury Wolves, Byfield has 20 goals and 50 points in 28 games this season, and likely has the best shot at making the team.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a big body that possesses the puck,91裸聊视频� McEwen said. 91裸聊视频滺e brings some real qualities with the overall package and skill.91裸聊视频�

Hunter said Byfield91裸聊视频檚 big frame could set him apart at camp.

91裸聊视频淲e want a big power forward that can do things at high speeds and drive to the net,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e need some bigger bodies that can play heavy with top-end skill.

91裸聊视频淚 want to see him use his feet, strength and skill to do some things that some other smaller skilled players can91裸聊视频檛 do.91裸聊视频�

The crop of defencemen set to compete for roster spots is led by the smooth-skating Bowen Byram, who was picked one spot after Dach by the Colorado Avalanche in June.

Hunter said puck possession will be key on the bigger ice surfaces in the cities of Ostrava and Trinec 91裸聊视频� which sit roughly 400 kilometres east of Prague 91裸聊视频� when Canada91裸聊视频檚 tournament starts Boxing Day against the United States.

91裸聊视频淲e can91裸聊视频檛 just throw the puck blindly,91裸聊视频� Hunter said. 91裸聊视频漌e really believe we91裸聊视频檝e got good skaters out here that can skate at high speeds and different ways and stop on a dime.91裸聊视频�

Only two of the five goalies invited to the World Junior Summer Showcase in suburban Detroit four months ago 91裸聊视频� Olivier Rodrigue and Hunter Jones 91裸聊视频� made the cut, with Nico Daws and Joel Hofer getting the call over Colten Ellis, Zachary Emond and Alexis Gravel

Size is clearly a factor in the crease for Canada.

Rodrigue, who appears to be the front-runner, stands six foot one, but Daws is six foot four, while both Jones and Hofer both come in at six foot five.

91裸聊视频淥ur goaltending people from Hockey Canada stamped all four, liked all four, wanted all four,91裸聊视频� Hunter said. 91裸聊视频滻t91裸聊视频檚 going to be very competitive.91裸聊视频�

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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