Canada has released their final roster for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. The roster is headlined by likely future first overall pick Connor Bedard, who's been dominating for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and last year's no.4 overall pick Kraken center Shane Wright, who was loaned to team Canada for the WJC. Bedard, the widely projected no.1 overall pick in the upcoming 2023 draft, leads all Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players with 64 points in 28 games. The 17-year-old center leads the WHL in goals (27) and assists (37), he is also currently riding a 27-game point streak. Wright has two points (one goal, one assist) in eight NHL games and scored four goals in five games during a recent conditioning stint with Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Bedard had eight points (four goals, four assists) at the 2022 WJC, when he became the eighth 16-year-old to be selected to play for Canada at the tournament, joining Wayne Gretzky (1978), Eric Lindros (1989), Jason Spezza (2000), Jay Bouwmeester (2000), Sindey Crosby (2004) and Conner McDavid (2014). He is one of nine players back from the 2022 team, along with defensemen Ethan Del Mastro (Chicago Blackhawks) and Olen Zellweger (Anaheim Ducks), plus forwards Nathan Gaucher (Anaheim Ducks), Zack Ostapchuk (Ottawa Senators), Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers, Joshua Roy (Montreal Canadiens, and Logan Stankoven (Dallas Stars).

Dennis Williams, who was an assistant coach last year and current head coach of the Everett Silvertips in the WHL, will coach Canada. Canada will play in Group A in the preliminary round, alongside Sweden, Czechia, Germany and Austria. Group B will consist of the United States, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Latvia. Final rosters for all 10 teams must be announced by December 24th.The WJC starts on Monday December 26th, current reigning champs Canada will look to be the first country to win consecutive tournaments since they won five straight from 2005-09.

Here is the full team Canada final roster

Benjamin Gaudreau, Sarnia, OHL (San Jose Sharks); Thomas Milic, Seattle, WHL (2023 draft eligible)

Nolan Allen, Seattle, WHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings; Ethan Del Mastro, Mississauga, OHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Tyson Hinds, Sherbrooke, QMJHL (Anaheim Ducks); Kevin Korchinski, Seattle, WHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Jack Matier, Ottawa, OHL (Nashville Predators); Olen Zellweger, Everett, WHL (Anaheim Ducks)

Caedan Bankier, Kamloops, WHL (Minnesota Wild); Connor Bedard, Regina, WHL (2023 draft eligible); Colton Dach, Kelowna, WHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Zach Dean, Gatineau, QMJHL (Vegas Golden Knights); Adam Fantilli, Michigan, NCAA (2023 draft eligible); Nathan Gaucher, Quebec, QMJHL (Anaheim Ducks); Dylan Guenther, Arizona Coyotes; Zack Ostapchuk, Vancouver, WHL (Ottawa Senators); Brennan Othmann, Peterborough, OHL (New York Rangers); Joshua Roy, Sherbrooke, QMJHL (Montreal Canadiens); Reid Schaefer, Seattle, WHL (Edmonton Oilers); Logan Stankoven, Kamloops, WHL (Dallas Stars); Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken