Pysyk Gets WJC Invite

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The Pipeline Show has learned that Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Mark Pysyk will be one of the players receiving a December camp invite from Hockey Canada. This is not a surprise as the 19-year-old is clearly one of the best defencemen in the WHL and has a solid chance of making the final roster.

Hockey Canada will hold a press conference in Edmonton on Monday at Rexall Place where they will formally announce the names of the players who will compete for a WJC roster spot. As usual, there will be the team's brass and a few players on hand and being that it's in his backyard, it only makes sense that Pysyk will be there.

The smooth skating, two-way blueliner has 12 points in 20 games this year but is counted on more by the Edmonton Oil Kings for his defensive zone play. The 19-year-old is captain of the Oil Kings, was at the summer U20 camp in Edmonton and has played for Canada in the past.


Canada's presser is scheduled for 9:30 AM (MST) and The Pipeline Show will be there. Reaction will follow.

On Saturday's show we were joined in studio by our regular CHL Insider, Sam Cosentino from Sportsnet. We continued out discussion of who we felt Hockey Canada would invite and who might make the final roster. (Tuesday, Part 1 Saturday, Part 2)

It's a clear indication of just how many players are legitimate considerations for Canada this year as Sam suggested some players for the final roster who I felt may or may not even get a camp invite and he felt the same way about some of my suggestions.

While I like Stu Percy (TOR) as an invite, Sam feels he should be playing in Canada's top 4. I'm a big supporter of Joe Morrow (PGH) but Cosentino wasn't sure that he'd be included in Monday's camp announcement. Mark McNeil (CHI), Dylan McIlrath (NYR), Alex Petrovic (FLA), Louis Domingue (PHX), Martin Lefebrve, Gregg McKegg (TOR)... all players who fit into that discussion of potential roster players who may not even be invited to the camp.

Monday's announcement will be very interesting indeed.