It is baffling that Iginla, Parekh and Yakemchuk weren’t even invited.
Tij had a fantastic U18s to go along with his breakout season. He plays one of the most mature styles of games amongst anyone in the 2024 draft. If you watch him play - he does everything right out there.
Parekh has dominated the OHL last year and this year and was a major part of his team winning the memorial cup last season. Could easily be considered the best offensive defenceman available.
Yakemchuk was one of the oldest players in last years draft, is one of the most physical defencemen eligible for the WJ tournament and is considered by many to be the most NHL ready Canadian defenceman from the 2024.
I can only speculate on these very poor excuses that the management/coaching staff used for not bringing them:
-probably choosing older players over Iginla because he was one of the youngest players in the 2024 draft. They are probably assuming he’ll be available for the team next year. Problem with that is they’ve invited several undrafted players instead of him.
-probably not inviting Parekh because of the perception that he’s not good defensively but so many scouts said his defensive game was actually pretty solid. You don’t win a memorial cup as a team’s top defenceman without being capable in your own end.
-probably not inviting Yakemchuk because he had the reputation of being a bit of a puck hog last season. Remember a scouting report that he had more attempts to beat players one-on-one than any other player in the CHL last year. Still though - he’s got all the tools hockey Canada should want in a defenceman at a tournament like this.
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