Power, McTavish in Olympic consideration: report
A few of Canada’s World Junior hopefuls might get a second crack at gold.
While the 2022 World Junior Championship experience was cut short, four Canadian prospects could represent Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
TSN’s Darren Dreger has reported both Owen Power and Mason McTavish are among the early names in the mix for Team Canada’s roster heading to the 2022 Winter Olympics. This was followed by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler sharing that Kaiden Guhle and Kent Johnson are also in consideration to don the maple leaf at the event, taking place February 4 to 20, 2022.
Canada played only two games at the 2022 World Juniors, but Power made his mark in a big way. The No. 1 pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft made Team Canada history, becoming the first defender to record a hat trick in the event. He finished the two games with an impressive five points (three goals, two assists).
Power is no stranger to the men’s national team, winning gold with Canada at the 2021 IIHF Men’s World Championship last spring. He’s having a stellar sophomore season in the NCAA with the University of Michigan, leading all defensemen with 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) in 18 games.
McTavish, selected two spots after Power in the 2021 draft by the Anaheim Ducks, matched Power’s stat line at the World Juniors.
The Peterborough Petes’ forward started his season in the NHL, playing nine games with the Ducks and recording his first three points (two goals, one assist) at the NHL level. He also dressed for three AHL games, adding another two points (one goal, one assist) before heading back to the OHL.
Guhle, selected with the No. 16 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, captained Canada at the World Juniors and had one assist.
Johnson, the No. 5 pick in the 2021 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, recorded one goal.
Wheeler originally shared that Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Cole Perfetti was also in consideration for this roster, but Dreger commented that according to the NHL’s rules, he’s not eligible. Perfetti, the No. 10 pick in the 2020 draft by the Winnipeg Jets, led the World Juniors in points, with six points (one goal, five assists) through two games.
According to Dreger, Team Canada’s Olympic roster will be set by January 18.
The NHL and NHLPA agreed to withdraw from the Olympics in December. The decision came as a result of rising cases of COVID-19.
The NHL had until January 10 to pull out of this year’s tournament without penalty.
Canada is scheduled to open the Olympic tournament against Germany on February 10. They will also play preliminary round games against the United States on February 12 and finish the round-robin against China on February 13.