On the eve of the start of the World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Russia, Hockey Canada tweaked the roster.
Six players from Eastern Canada, all 2000-born, were added to the Canadian line-up following the elimination of their C-H-L teams from the playoffs. That resulted in four, 2001-born…or underage…players being sent home. Included in that group were a pair of Saskatoon Blades…goaltender Nolan Maier and centre Kirby Dach (pictured). There will be a Blades’ presence on Team Canada as 2000-born centre Chase Wouters remains on the 23-man roster, which includes three goaltenders, along with Prince Albert Raiders’ left winger Cole Fonstad. Wouters, Fonstad and the rest of the Canadian squad take on the United States Thursday morning at 8:30, Saskatchewan Time.