My favourite Boxing Day tradition is settling in to watch the Canadian juniors open their World Junior Championship. The World Junior Championships 2008 takes place in the Czech Republic and we play the host team in about 130 minutes.
The Star has a nice summary of players representing the GTA. They are:
STEVE MASON G
Oakville
(London OHL)
Columbus draft pick in '06 (third round) was OHL's goaltender of the year last season, set CHL record for assists by a goalie (13).
P.K. SUBBAN D
Toronto
(Belleville OHL)
Montreal draftee ('07, second round) can get physical but can also score from the point on the PP.
STEFAN LEGEIN F
Oakville
(Niagara OHL)
Columbus draftee ('07, second round), can play any kind of game, led OHL in short-handed goals last season with nine.
STEVEN STAMKOS F
Unionville
(Sarnia OHL)
Draft-eligible in '08, Markham minor hockey product has great wheels and plays well at both ends.
JOHN TAVARES F
Oakville
(Oshawa OHL)
Draft-eligible in '09, the Marlboros minor hockey product won OHL and CHL player-of-the-year honours last season.
SHAWN MATTHIAS F
Mississauga
(Belleville OHL)
Taken by Detroit ('07, second round) then traded to Florida for Todd Bertuzzi last February, is big and skates well.
MATT HALISCHUK F
Mississauga
(Kitchener OHL)
New Jersey draftee ('06, fourth round) makes his international debut; is an excellent two-way player and penalty killer.
WAYNE SIMMONDS F
Pickering
(Soo, OHL)
Los Angeles draftee ('07, second round) isn't the prettiest of skaters but has good hands and a nose for the net.
We're on quite the role having won the past three championships. We've also won 18 games in a row in this tournament, and we almost swept that Summit Series redux thing against Russia in September.
Go Canada Go!
