DESPRES INVITED TO CAMP

Simon Despres has been invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp.

The full camp roster was announced this afternoon at a press conference in Toronto. The process of selecting the 22-man team to represent Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships runs from December 12 to 15 in the Ontario capital.

Despres was expected to be named to the camp. The Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman will have a good shot at making the team after a solid start to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season.

"I have to play good positional hockey and be good defensively,'' Despres said about his bid to make Team Canada to the Telegraph-Journal. "I just have to play simple and make a good first pass and try not to do too much. I'm going into (that) camp to earn a spot.''

The 19-year old got a long look at Pittsburgh Penguins training camp this past September before being returned to junior. In 16 games this season with the nationally ranked Sea Dogs, Despres has five goals and 14 assists. He has been dominant on the backend all year for Saint John, carrying an impressive +19 rating.

Despres’ previous Hockey Canada experience involves skating with Team Quebec at the 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, recording no points and 10 penalty minutes in five matches. He then won Gold with Team Canada at the 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament, registering two goals and eight penalty minutes in four contests. The Pens prospect also represented Canada (4th Place Team) at the 2009 World U-18 Championships where he added two assists and eight penalty minutes in six games to his impressive resume.

The ‘Big Horse’ took part in Canada’s summer development camp in St. John’s, Newfoundland over the off-season.

Despres is just the second Sea Dog in team history to make the camp roster. Chris DiDomenico played for Canada at the 2009 World Juniors in Ottawa, capturing a Gold Medal.

34 of the 39 players at the camp are from the Canadian Hockey League. The full roster can be seen below:

Goaltenders:
JP Anderson Mississauga (OHL)
Calvin Pickard Seattle (WHL
Olivier Roy Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
Mark Visentin Niagara (OHL)

Defenseman:
Tyson Barrie Kelowna (WHL)
Jared Cowen* Spokane (WHL)
Simon Despres Saint John (QMJHL)
Calvin de Haan* Oshawa (OHL)
Ryan Ellis* Windsor (OHL)
Brandon Gormley Moncton (QMJHL)
Erik Gudbranson Kingston (OHL)
Brayden McNabb Kootenay (WHL)
Ryan Murphy Kitchener (OHL)
Ryan Murray Everett (WHL)
Dylan Olsen Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
Mark Pysyk Edmonton (WHL)

Forwards:
Carter Ashton Regina (WHL)
Michael Bournival Shawinigan (QMJHL)
Casey Cizikas Mississauga (OHL)
Brett Connolly Prince George (WHL)
Sean Couturier Drummondville (QMJHL)
Cody Eakin Swift Current (WHL)
Marcus Foligno Sudbury (OHL)
Brendan Gallagher Vancouver (WHL)
Curtis Hamilton Saskatoon (WHL)
Joey Hishon Owen Sound (OHL)
Quinton Howden Moose Jaw (WHL)
Ryan Howse Chilliwack (WHL)
Ryan Johansen Portland (WHL)
Zack Kassian Windsor (OHL)
Louis Leblanc Montreal (QMJHL)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Red Deer (WHL)
Brandon Pirri Rockford (AHL)
Brad Ross Portland (WHL)
Jaden Schwartz Colorado (WCHA)
Riley Sheahan Notre Dame (NCAA)
Reilly Smith Miami University (CCHA)
Linden Vey Medicine Hat (WHL)
Garrett Wilson Owen Sound (OHL)

Leblanc, Couturier, Roy, Bournival, Despres and Gormley will represent the QMJHL at camp. Gormley suffered a knee injury last weekend in Lewiston and all indications are that it is not good.

Despres was the only Sea Dog expected to make the camp roster even after Nathan Beaulieu and Jonathan Huberdeau played well in front of the Hockey Canada brass. Their time will come.

Canada is scheduled to play exhibition matches against Switzerland in Oshawa on December 20, Sweden in Toronto on December 21 and Finland in Kitchener on December 23. Meaningful action begins Boxing Day when Canada takes on Russia.

Some exciting pictures from the presser can be seen below: