Hockey Canada's head scout reveals controversial insight to roster selections
Team Canada suffered a crushing defeat to Team Czechia during the quarter finals of the World Juniors, and the tournament has now come to an abrupt end. Now that fans have had the opportunity to let the emotions soak in, Hockey Canada's selection strategy has sparked intense debate across the nation.
U-20 Head Scout Al Murray recently made himself available for a media availability following Canada's defeat.
"When you look at the team we brought together, we pulled the most deserving to camp. We started with about 70 players in September, plus other players that were identified by the CHL. We have really good rapport with the CHL, and they put together some names that they thought were solid candidates, so we had a group of about 70 players."
-Al Murray
-Al Murray
"We narrowed that down to about 47, and then we invited 32. A couple of guys werent able to come, so we added a couple more. So I think the process was a sound process. I think we brought the players that were the most deserving to have spots. I thought we had a real good team that was capable of winning a gold medal."
-Al Murray
-Al Murray
According to Oilers Insider Jason Gregor, they only selected six of the top 18 scorers (points per game) in the entire CHL. And of those six they limited ice-time of Martone, Rehkopf and Dickinson. Didn't use McKenna enough.
No Cristall, Misa, Greentree, Hage (NCAA), Parekh or Yakemchuk. To claim the process was great suggests a lack of self awareness.
As it stands, Hockey Canada is in the hot seat for yet another disappointing showing at the World Juniors.
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