Forwards from Brampton and Oshawa invited to Canada’s World Junior selection camp in Ottawa

Two Steelheads and a General were among 32 players invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp, set for Ottawa’s TD Place December 10-13.

The puck drops on the World Junior Hockey Championships on Boxing Day with four games, which includes Canada taking on Finland at the Canadian Tire Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Forwards Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals) and Porter Martone and Carson Rehkopf (Brampton Steelheads) were the only local players invited to camp by U20 head scout Al Murray and the management group, which includes Peter Anholt and former NHL’er Brent Seabrook.  Team Canada Head Coch Dave Cameron and coaches and general managers from across the Canadian Hockey League also provided input.

“We are excited to announce the 32 players who have earned invitations to selection camp in Ottawa and begin the road to our ultimate goal of winning a World Junior Championship gold medal on home ice,” Murray said. “This is a talented group of young players that is determined to represent Canada with pride over the holidays, and we expect a highly competitive camp with several difficult decisions when determining our final roster.”

Among the players competing for a chance to represent Canada are seven players who were on the 2024 team, including Rehkopf and London Knight and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan, as well as eight players who won gold at the World U-18 championships, including Martone.

The camp will include a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars December 13-13. The coaching squad will look to whittle down the roster to 22 or 23, depending on whether they bring a third goaltender.

Ritchie began the season with the Colorado Avalanche, scoring one goal in a seven-game stint. Rehkopf is property of the Seattle Kraken while Martone, who is 18 but with a late birthday, is eligible for the 2025 NHL draft.

Ritchie’s teammate Beckett Sennecke, the third overall selection last spring by the Anaheim Ducks, was not given an invite despite a four-goal, six-point night Sunday against Kingston.

Calum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals in action earlier this season with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche