Two World Junior standouts could suit up for Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics
Two weeks from now, the men's ice hockey roster for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing is expected to be announced. The World Juniors were recently cancelled by the IIHF due to COVID-19, but that doesn't mean that some members of Team Canada won't wear the red and white again very soon.
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Mason MacTavish and Owen Power are in consideration for Team Canada's roster for the Olympics, and rightfully so, given what each had shown in limited looks at the WJC tournament.
With the NHL pulling out of the Olympics, Team Canada's roster will largely be made up of players playing in European leagues, much like in 2018. That being said, this doesn't rule out the possibility that two of the biggest standouts from Canada's two World Junior games could join the team and head to Beijing in February.
Mason MacTavish has been lighting up the OHL since he made his return from his 9-game stint with the Anaheim Ducks. He currently has 5 goals in 4 games for the Peterborough Petes and it has caught Hockey Canada's attention.
Meanwhile, Owen Power, the 2021 first overall pick, has been having an outstanding year with the University of Michigan. In 18 games, Power has 23 points, and we saw how well he moves at the World Juniors - especially for a 6'5" defenceman.
It'll be interesting to see who makes Team Canada now that the NHL players aren't attending the Olympic Games, but it's clear that some players who missed out on the World Juniors due to the pandemic could get the opportunity to represent their country at the Olympics.
