National Junior Team Development Camp : UPDATE

A development camp for the Canadian Junior team is underway in Saskatoon, where an extensive list of invitees have showcased their skills, and have tried to impress scouts and team personnel early in the intrasquad Red vs White games. Last year, when we consider the major International events leading up to the World Juniors, Saskatchewan was very well represented, eventually sending 3 very skilled players to Ottawa. (Defenseman Keith Aulie, Goaltender Dustin Tokarski, and Forward Jordan Eberle). This year, only 3 players have been invited to the development camp in Saskatoon. These 3 players however, are shoe-ins to make the squad in December. In no particular order:


C - JORDAN EBERLE - Regina Pats, WHL - Regina, SK.

What can't be said about this guy that everyone doesn't already know? He is the REAL DEAL. The Edmonton Oilers have the best group of young prospects in the entire league, and Eberle is no exception. Being the leader on a lackluster Regina Pats team for the past couple years has not gone unnoticed, and Eberle developed into a staple on Team Canada's Roster in Ottawa last year. Eberle's efforts earned him a Top-3 forward honour for Team Canada for the tournament, joining New York Islanders phenon John Tavares, and Canucks top prospect Cody Hodgson. If you still don't know who Jordan Eberle is, his talent can pretty much be summed up by watching this video of what could be considered the biggest goal in Canadian Hockey history since Paul Henderson's heroics in the '72 Summit Series: (Just turn down the volume if you can't stand Pierre Maguire like us)





If Eberle has not cracked the Oilers line up by late November next season, he will definitely have a spot on Team Canada. The only potential problem I see is that Oilers' new coach Pat Quinn knows exactly what Eberle can bring to the table, so he may be sticking around the City of Champions.

C - BRAYDEN SCHENN - Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL - Saskatoon, SK

The younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs' defenseman Luke Schenn really could have made the squad last year, but an extra year for development could make all the difference, as this big centreman for the Wheat Kings will be the hometown kid to watch, as the tournament will be played in his hometown of Saskatoon. Regarded as a "Puck-possession" forward, Schenn will make an excellent addition to the 2nd or third line, and in our opinion, would work extremely well with skilled players like Jordan Eberle & Cody Hodgson, or perhaps would fit in the best on the energy line with potential returning players like Patricie Cormier and Stefan Della-Rovere. Brayden Schenn is in the same boat as a lot of these players. If he doesn't crack the Los Angeles Kings lineup (which we believe he won't quite yet), he has a roster spot saved for him already.

D - JARED COWEN - Spokane Chiefs, WHL - Allan, SK.

Drafting Cowen 9th overall was definitely the best move that the Ottawa Senators could make in the 2009 entry draft. A powerful defenseman, Cowen enters development camp on the injury list, but his reputation as a potential star preceeds him, and we could see an uneblievable group of kids on the blueline this year, with potential returnees in Regina Pats big-man Colten Tuebert, the 6"7 monster Tyler Myers, and powerplay specialist Ryan Ellis of the reigning Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires. Jared Cowen won't make the Senators lineup quite yet, so he will be on the squad come December.

INTERESTING SIDE-NOTE - The coach of Team Canada, who was named in the past few months, is Pat Quinn's assistant last year, Willie Desjardins, who hails from Climax, Saskatchewan.

FURTHER OUT:

C - Jaden Schwartz

Although it is still early, we don't see this youngster making the Team Canada squad too soon, but in a couple years, we believe that he just may turn some scouts' heads in the World Junior tournament in Edmonton/Calgary in 2011. This 16 year old centreman from Wilcox, SK. is on the shorter side, at only 5"9, but his skill makes up for it, as he was drafted by the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. Although he was a late draft pick (8th round), 2 years can make a lot of difference, and this next season will be a big determining factor, whether he remains with his SJHL club, the Notre Dame Hounds, or joins the Americans. Either way, he is under the PrairiePuck's radar, and let's hope that talented players like Schwartz will keep the ongoing tradition of skilled Saskatchewan-born players making the Team Canada Junior Squad.



PP