Team Canada Releases O’Brien, Vanacker, and Smith from World Junior Championship Camp
Team Canada has announced cuts to its roster for the World Junior Championship camp. On Thursday, forwards Jake O’Brien and Marek Vanacker, along with defenseman Jackson Smith, were released from the team. These decisions come on the heels of Canada’s 2-1 victory over Sweden in their first pre-tournament match.
Current Roster Status
The current roster for Team Canada now features 24 players. The cuts involved notable young talent:
- Jake O’Brien: An 18-year-old forward with 11 goals and 46 points in 27 games for the Brantford Bulldogs this season. He was the eighth overall pick by the Seattle Kraken in June 2023.
- Marek Vanacker: At 19, he scored 26 goals and accumulated 41 points in 26 games this season with the Bulldogs. The Chicago Blackhawks selected him 27th overall in the 2024 draft.
- Jackson Smith: The 18-year-old defenseman recorded three goals and nine points in his debut season at Penn State. He was picked 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in June 2023.
Upcoming Tournament Schedule
The World Junior Championship for Canada kicks off on Boxing Day. The team’s schedule includes:
- Dec. 26: vs. Czechia at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT
- Dec. 27: vs. Latvia
- Dec. 29: vs. Denmark
- Dec. 31: vs. Finland
Historical Context
This tournament is significant for Canada, which looks to reclaim a podium spot after having exited in the quarter-finals for two consecutive years. Remarkably, this marks the first time since 1979-81 that Canada has missed the podium for three straight years.
Pre-Tournament Action
Canada will face Sweden again in pre-tournament action this Saturday, with the match broadcasted on TSN. More updates on the team and tournament details are anticipated in the coming days.
