Girard, Steel, McNiven among final five cuts by Canada’s junior team
BOISBRIAND, Que. — The dream of playing in the world junior hockey championship is over for five players cut from Canada’s team on Wednesday night.
Goaltender Michael McNiven of the Owen Sound Attack, defencemen Guillaume Brisebois of the Charlottetown Islanders and Samuel Girard of the Shawinigan Cataractes, and forwards Sam Steel of the Regina Pats and Zach Senyshyn of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds got the bad news from Hockey Canada brass shortly after the team’s 8-0 victory over the Czech Republic in a pre-tournament game.
“It’s always difficult, especially this year and especially after this game — those guys pushed it down to the wire,” said coach Dominique Ducharme. “The part that’s not fun is to meet the five guys and tell them they didn’t make it, but we’re really happy with the 22 guys we have and we look forward to moving ahead with those guys.”
There were 31 players when the team selection camp opened on Sunday. Four were cut on Tuesday — defenceman Victor Mete of the London Knights and forwards Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors, Nick Merkley of the Kelowna Rockets and Austin Wagner of the Pats.