Connor Zary and Jakob Pelletier invited to Canada’s World Junior selection camp

It’s getting chillier and snow is falling in parts of Canada, which means it’s almost World Junior season. In anticipation of the second-best tournament in hockey (behind the Stanley Cup), Hockey Canada has announced its selection camp roster.

A pair of Calgary Flames first rounders are on the invite list: 2019’s Jakob Pelletier and 2020’s Connor Zary.

The camp roster includes 47 players: five goalies, 15 defensemen and 26 forwards. Last year’s Canadian squad at the tournament had three goalies, seven defensemen and 13 forwards, and this year’s group will have 25 players, so half of the players invited won’t make the team.

Pelletier, 19, is presently playing for the QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs and serves as that team’s captain. He was invited to selection camp last season, but suffered a concussion right before he was slated to leave for the camp – he was considered to be a strong contender to make the team, too. He likely has a big chance to make the team this time around. He’s previously represented Canada at the World Under-17 Challenge, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the World Under-18s, and he’s the QMJHL’s reigning Most Sportsmanlike Player.

Zary, 19, is waiting for the WHL’s season to begin in January, where he’ll be suiting up for the Kamloops Blazers. It’s the first crack at the World Junior squad for Zary, who previously played for Canada at the World Under-18s. He’s coming off an All-Star season in the WHL, but is a bit of an underdog for a WJC spot simply because of all the bodies Hockey Canada has invited.

Selection camp runs Nov. 17 to Dec. 13 in scenic Red Deer. The World Juniors take place Dec. 25 to Jan 5 in less scenic Edmonton.