Dillon Dubé is looking to once again represent his country at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) 2018 World Junior Hockey Championships after being selected for Team Canada’s junior selection camp on Dec. 6.
Hockey Canada moved one step closer to finding out who will wear the red-and-white come Dec. 26, as 33 players earned an invitation to Canada’s camp in St. Catherines, Ont., Dec. 12 through until the 15.
Among the 33 players attending camp, seven are returnees: goaltender Carter Hart, defencemen Jake Bean, Kale Clague and Dante Fabbro. Dubé joins Michael McLeod and Taylor Raddysh at forward.
Dubé suited up for Team Canada at last year’s World Juniors, where he collected three assists and seven games bringing home a silver medal, after Canada lost 5-4 in a shootout to the United States in the gold medal game.
The local product is having a stellar season with his Western Hockey League Club (WHL), the Kelowna Rockets, leading the team through 25 games with 36 points.
His 16 goals put him at second in scoring on the team. Serving as an assistant captain for the Rockets, the Calgary Flames second round draft pick in 2016 was also named captain of Team WHL at the CIBC Canada-Russia Series, where he led all three CHL teams in scoring against the Russians – two goals and three assists for five points in two games. His performance tied an event record for points by a WHL player.
Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp will be held at the Meridian Centre, the home of the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Niagra Ice Dogs, and feature a trio of games – two against a USports All-Star team, made up of the best university hockey players across Canada on Dec. 13 and 14, and a game against Denmark on Dec. 15.
Following the four-day camp, the Canadian team will make its final preparations with a pair of pre-tournament games. On Dec. 20, Canada will face the Czech Republic and on Dec. 22 Canada will take on Switzerland.
Canada will then pare down its roster to the final group of 22 players that will wear the Canadian jersey in Buffalo Dec. 26-Jan. 5, as they seek to win the nation’s 16th World Junior gold medal.
Canada’s quest for gold officially begins Boxing Day against Finland. The team will also face Team USA in the tournament’s first outdoor game on Dec. 29 at New Era Field, the home of the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.
