Wright leads Canada’s entry at 2022 World Juniors
Shane Wright, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is among 25 players who will represent Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Canada announced its roster for the tournament Sunday.
“I’m really curious to see how Wright does on the World Juniors stage,” Ontario-based FCHockey scout Mat Sheridan said. “He’ll have a lot of eyes on him but he showed at the World Under-18 Championship that he performs well under pressure. He will most likely be used in all situations and will play a big part if Canada experiences success.”
Wright, who topped FCHockey’s Winter ranking for the 2022 NHL Draft earlier this month, has 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 19 games with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League this season.
He captained Canada to gold at the 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in May, and was one of the final players cut prior to the 2021 World Juniors.
“The key element to Wright’s game is his on-ice awareness,” Sheridan said. “Whether in the offensive or defensive zone, he is always thinking a step ahead of his opponents.
“He makes quick reads in his own zone and causes turnovers with a quick active stick. This makes him an incredibly dangerous player, one who opponents must keep an eye on at all times when he is on the ice.”
Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick for the 2023 NHL Draft, was also named to the team.
Bedard, who has 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League this season, also helped Canada win gold at the Under-18s with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in seven games.
“Bedard has proven quite a few times already in his young career that when the level of talent around him improves, he rises to every occasion to meet and exceed them,” Saskatchewan-based FCHockey scout Joel Henderson said. “The Under-18s and his play so in Canada’s camp should be evidence of that.”
Joining Wright and Bedard on the roster is Owen Power, who was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, was also named to the team.
Power is one of 14 first-round picks will join Canada at the World Juniors, including eight selected in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Here’s a rundown of Canada’s roster for the World Juniors:
| POS | NAME | HT | WT | TEAM | LEAGUE | CLUB | YEAR | RND | PCK |
| G | Brett Brochu | 5’11” | 175 | London | OHL | 2022 | |||
| G | Sebastian Cossa | 6’7” | 203 | Edmonton | WHL | Detroit Red Wings | 2021 | 1 | 15 |
| G | Dylan Garand | 6’1” | 179 | Kamloops | WHL | New York Rangers | 2020 | 4 | 103 |
| D | Lukas Cormier | 5’10” | 176 | Charlottetown | QMJHL | Vegas Golden Knights | 2020 | 3 | 68 |
| D | Kaiden Guhle | 6’3” | 203 | Edmonton | WHL | Montreal Canadiens | 2020 | 1 | 16 |
| D | Carson Lambos | 6’1” | 195 | Winnipeg | WHL | Minnesota Wild | 2021 | 1 | 26 |
| D | Ryan O’Rourke | 6’1” | 172 | Sault Ste. Marie | OHL | Minnesota Wild | 2020 | 2 | 39 |
| D | Owen Power | 6’5” | 214 | Michigan | NCAA | Buffalo Sabres | 2021 | 1 | 1 |
| D | Donovan Sebrango | 6’1” | 200 | Grand Rapids | AHL | Detroit Red Wings | 2020 | 3 | 63 |
| D | Ronan Seeley | 6’1” | 192 | Everett | WHL | Carolina Hurricanes | 2020 | 7 | 208 |
| D | Olen Zellweger | 5’10” | 175 | Everett | WHL | Anahiem Ducks | 2021 | 2 | 34 |
| F | Connor Bedard | 5’9” | 180 | Regina | WHL | 2023 | |||
| F | Xavier Bourgault | 6’0” | 172 | Shawinigan | QMJHL | Edmonton Oilers | 2021 | 1 | 22 |
| F | Mavrik Bourque | 5’11” | 185 | Shawinigan | QMJHL | Dallas Stars | 2020 | 1 | 30 |
| F | Will Cuylle | 6’3” | 210 | Windsor | OHL | New York Rangers | 2020 | 2 | 60 |
| F | Elliot Desnoyers | 5’11” | 172 | Halifax | QMJHL | Philadelphia Flyers | 2020 | 5 | 135 |
| F | Ridly Greig | 5’11” | 164 | Brandon | WHL | Ottawa Senators | 2020 | 1 | 28 |
| F | Dylan Guenther | 6’2” | 181 | Edmonton | WHL | Arizona Coyotes | 2021 | 1 | 9 |
| F | Kent Johnson | 6’1” | 165 | Michigan | NCAA | Columbus Blue Jackets | 2021 | 1 | 5 |
| F | Mason McTavish | 6’2” | 207 | Peterborough | OHL | Anaheim Ducks | 2021 | 1 | 3 |
| F | Jake Neighbours | 6’0” | 197 | Edmonton | WHL | St. Louis Blues | 2020 | 1 | 26 |
| F | Cole Perfetti | 5’11” | 177 | Manitoba | AHL | Winnipeg Jets | 2020 | 1 | 10 |
| F | Justin Sourdif | 5’11” | 182 | Vancouver | WHL | Florida Panthers | 2020 | 3 | 87 |
| F | Logan Stankoven | 5’8” | 170 | Kamloops | WHL | Dallas Stars | 2021 | 2 | 47 |
| F | Shane Wright | 6’1” | 187 | Kingston | OHL | 2023 |