Canada has not won a gold medal at the World Junior Championship for the past five years, not since 2009 in Ottawa when Pat Quinn was behind the bench. Nik Stauskas Jersey . Canada has not won a WJC medal of any colour in the last two years (which is unprecedented since launching the program of excellence in 1982), losing to Russia in consecutive bronze-medal games in 2013 and 2014. Can you say drought? Angst? Suffice to say Hockey Canada will no doubt endure more than the normal level of pre-event second guessing – which even in successful times can be off-the-charts crazy – as it announced today at 11 a.m. ET the 29 players invited to Team Canadas final evaluation camp that starts Dec. 11 in Toronto. With the tournament being hosted in Canada – Toronto and Montreal will share it, opening in both cities Dec. 26 and finishing Jan. 5 with the gold-medal game in Toronto – therell be even more intense scrutiny of this years team. Todays list of invitees does not includes the seven Canadians currently in the NHL and still WJC-eligible, some of whom, if made available, could tremendously boost the outlook for Team Canada. Colorados Nathan MacKinnon, NHL rookie of the year last season, is, of course, not even a consideration. Neither, really, are Florida defenceman Aaron Ekblad, who has played too well and too much in his rookie pro season for the Panthers to consider parting with him, and Calgary forward Sam Bennett, who is technically still an NHLer even though he is on long-term rehab from pre-season shoulder surgery. That leaves Tampa left winger Jonathan Drouin, Vancouver centre Bo Horvat, Ottawa centre Curtis Lazar (who for purposes of Team Canada is more a right winger than a centre) and New York Ranger right winger Anthony Duclair as potential considerations who could be added before the NHL pre-Christmas roster freeze that goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 19. But that is a story for another day, quite likely Dec. 19. Todays story is who has been invited, or not, to try out for Team Canada, which this year is being coached by Gatineau Olympiques head coach Benoit Groulx, with Guelph Storm head coach Scott Walker and Victoria Royal head coach Dave Lowry as his assistants. This years Team Canada is likely to be an older group. Twenty of the 30 players invited are 1995-born, in their final year of junior eligibility. The most noteworthy exception, of course, is 1997-born and 2015 draft eligible phenom Connor McDavid, whos currently sidelined with a broken hand (almost three weeks into an anticipated five-to-six week healing period) but still projected to be ready for the WJC. McDavid is one of only two 2015 draft eligibles – Kingstons Lawson Crouse is the other – going to the camp. Hockey Canada has invited two goaltenders, 10 defencemen and 17 forwards to the final evaluation camp. The final 22-man roster of two goalies, (likely) seven defencemen and 13 forwards does not need to be submitted until Christmas Day. Even then, if a country wanted to leave vacancies and add players as the tournament progressed, it can do so. Heres a look, position-by-position, at the players invited to the final evaluation camp and the battle for spots on Canadas 2015 national junior team: GOAL: As was the case a year ago, Hockey Canada has decided to take only two goaltenders to the final camp. So, ladies and gentlemen, (barring injury), your Team Canada netminders for 2015 are: Montreal Canadien prospect Zach Fucale of the Halifax Mooseheads and Winnipeg Jet prospect Eric Comrie of the Tri City Americans. Fucale is one of seven returnees invited today. By inviting only two goalies and effectively awarding the netminding positions to Fucale and Comrie, Hockey Canada is choosing comfort over competition at that position. Because Canada finished out of the medals last season, critics said the lack of competition in goal was a definite minus. But Canada also finished out of the medals two years ago and had a competitive situation in net. So which is best? Theres no question, though, that over this five-year gold-medal drought, goaltending has been a significant area of concern for Team Canada at the WJC and, internationally speaking overall, an area Hockey Canada knows much work is required on the development front. Fucale has struggled at times this season for a rebuilding Halifax team. His goals-against average of 3.35 is 13th in the Quebec League and his save percentage of .886 is 14th, although scouting reports suggest hes been playing better of late. He likely clinched one of the two goalie berths with a tremendous performance for the QMJHL in a Subway Super Series game against the Russians earlier this month. Fucale and Comrie were Canadas goaltending tandem at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka U-18 tourney, with Fucale playing in all but one game en route to a gold medal. Canada can name a third goalie as an emergency back-up but wont do so until closer to Christmas Day. The other goaltenders who were in the running to unseat Fucale or Comrie for an invite were: Pittsburgh Penguin prospect Tristan Jarry of the Edmonton Oil Kings; 2015 draft eligible Mackenzie Blackwood (a late 1996 born) of the Barrie Colts; and, Dallas prospect Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic. Blackwood was the only one of the five goalies listed above who wasnt part of Hockey Canadas summer development camp. DEFENCE: Two returnees – Winnipeg 2013 first-rounder Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders and Colorado prospect Chris Bigras of the Owen Sound Attack – are amongst the 11 blueliners invited. Bigras, however, is not considered a lock to make the team. He didnt play well at the WJC last year and didnt perform nearly as well at Colorados NHL training camp this year as he did a year ago. He has played well in Owen Sound this season but hell have to battle to win back his spot. This group will really miss NHLer Aaron Ekblad, not only because hes a tremendous two-way threat, but hes also a right-hand shot who plays the right side, something that is decidedly absent this year. Morrissey, who can quarterback a power play, will no doubt nail down the top spot on the left side of the defensive depth chart. Washington prospect Madison Bowey of the Kelowna Rockets is the only true right-shot, right defenceman going to camp, so Morrissey-Bowey could emerge as the top pairing. Based on how well theyve played since being returned from the NHL, as well as strong efforts in the Subway Super Series games against the Russians, Edmonton prospect Darnell Nurse of the Soo Greyhounds and Anaheim prospect Shea Theodore of the Seattle Thunderbirds would appear to be top contenders to get potential top-four roles on the team. Both are left-shot defencemen but Theodore can, and likely will (assuming he makes it) play the right side. Groulx and his staff arent about to guarantee anyone a spot on the team without earning it at the final camp, but the reality is these four 1995-born defencemen are likely in the position of having to play their way off the team as opposed to playing their way on. Beyond that, though, the competition is wide open and much like putting together a jigsaw puzzle with the right pieces to fill specific power play/penalty kill/offence/defence needs. Finding the right mix of players will be an important consideration. Based on his play at the summer evaluation camp, as well as his size and mobility, 1996-born Haydn Fleury, the Carolina prospect who went seventh overall in 2014, would seem a natural fit in Team Canadas top six. But he hasnt played particularly well for Red Deer in the WHL this season, so hes going to need a strong camp. Then theres 6-foot-7 Sam Morin, the Philadelphia first-rounder from Rimouski. Hes missed most of this season with a broken jaw and only came back Nov. 22 but he has the size and talent to be a factor – if hes on top of his game. Fleury and Morin are both left-shot, left defencemen. Other left D competing for spots are Bigras, whose forte is a composed and solid two-way game; Columbus prospect Dillon Heatherington, a steady stay-at-home defender for Swift Current; and, Philadelphia prospect Travis Sanheim, the big, rangy and mobile Calgary Hitmen blueliner. Of that entire group on the left side, Fleury and Sanheim are the only 1996 borns. Sanheims game can be a little raw compared to the older 1995 borns but he has a dynamic, offensive element many of them do not. On the right side, beyond Bowey and Theodore, there is only one other challenger and he is intriguing on so many levels. Victorias Joe Hicketts is the only defenceman invited to this camp who wasnt invited to the summer camp. At 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, hes not blessed with extraordinary size or speed, and the 1996-born blueliner wasnt drafted by an NHL team last summer. But after attending Detroits summer prospect camp, and then getting invited to the Wings rookie tournament team in Traverse City, the undrafted free agent sufficiently impressed the Wings to get an NHL contract. Hes been an offensive dynamo in the WHL this season. With seven goals and 36 points in 28 games, he leads all WHL defencemen in scoring, but hes fifth amongst all players in the WHL. It doesnt hurt that Lowry, who will handle the defencemen for Groulx, is Hicketts head coach in Victoria. For a defenceman of that stature in the WJC, Hicketts doesnt have the same dynamic qualities to his game as, say, Ryan Ellis in 2009 and 2010, but he has a scrappy get-things-done mentality and puts up points. CENTRE: If the Vancouver Canucks loan Bo Horvat to Team Canada, the depth chart in the middle of the ice becomes quite easy to fill out: Connor McDavid, Sam Reinhart, Horvat and Nic Petan. That foursome doesnt even include returnee centre Frederik Gauthier, the Toronto first-rounder playing in Rimouski. Gauthier isnt guaranteed a place on the team, but the betting is his exemplary work as a penalty killer and size/strength could put him in the group of 13 forwards. If Horvat isnt loaned, Gauthier could be that fourth-line centre, unless Team Canada is looking for a more dynamic offensive presence in that slot. McDavid, Reinhart and Petan are all returnees from last years team, though McDavid and Reinhart played on the wing in 2014. McDavid is the undisputed No. 1 centre this year. Reinhart, the Buffalo prospect of the Kootenay Ice, is (for now anyway) viewed by Team Canada in his natural centre position this year. Petan, the Winnipeg prospect who plays for the Portland Winterhawks, will also be a key offensive contributor. With four returnees (McDavid, Reinhart, Petan and Gauthier) at centre – five if you count Horvat – the other pivots invited are obviously up against it. Not surprisingly, then, each of the four remaining centres invited to the camp are versatile players who can also play on the wing and, quite likely, will have to if theyre going to make the team. Jason Dickinson (Dallas/Guelph) is a heady player, highly adaptable and can play all three forward positions. Nick Paul (Ottawa/North Bay) can play left wing or centre and offers size, strength and a power game. Brayden Point (Tampa/Moose Jaw) is smaller in physical stature but stood out for the WHL in the Subway Super Series and can play centre or right wing. And then theres Rourke Chartier of the Kelowna Rockets. Of all the invitees, this is one that is most surprising. Chartier, a 1996-born, 5-11, 180-pound centre who can play wing, was taken 149th overall by San Jose in the 2014 NHL draft. Hes one of only three forwards invited to the final camp who werent at the summer evaluation camp. But hes also leading the WHL in scoring, with 29 goals and 48 points in 27 games. Given the depth at centre and the pedigree of those hell still have to compete against on the wing, Chartier may be a darkhorse but no one has held a hotter hand of late, scoring 18 goals in 14 games for the Rockets in November. LEFT WING: Tampa releasing Drouin may be the longest shot of the four unanswered NHL questions up front, but even if Team Canada doesnt get him, it feels reasonably confident with the talent and depth on the left side. With or without Drouin, Phoenix first rounder (2013) Max Domi of the London Knights would appear to be a lock. He was the poster boy as the biggest omission to last years final evaluation camp, but therell be no denying him this year. St. Louis first-rounder Rob Fabbri of the Guelph Storm is 1996-born but he almost made the Blues out of training camp and would appear a leading contender for a spot on the left side. Fabbri is a natural centre with the Storm, but viewed as a winger for Team Canada. He could shift to the right side, if necessary, but goes into camp as a left winger. Big Nick Ritchie, the Anaheim top 10 pick from 2014 who plays for the Peterborough Petes, is a late 1995 born and, if he shows hes on his game (size, strength, physical presence and skill), is another contender for a spot. Worth noting, the line of (left to right) Fabbri, McDavid and Ritchie (playing his off wing) was outstanding at the summer evaluation camp, but, for now anyway, Ritchie is being looked at on the left side more than the right. Of course, that could easily change. Fabbri and Ritchie are going to be pushed by Calgary Flames 2013 first-rounder Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats and New York Islander 2014 5th overall pick Michael Dal Colle of the Oshawa Generals, who has 18 goals in 20 OHL games this season. Also worth noting: when McDavid tore up the 2013 World Under-18 Championship as a double underager, Klimchuk was on his left wing and Sam Reinhart was on his right side. The left-side battle is rounded out by two players who have impressed even though neither was invited to the national junior team summer camp: Dallas prospect (40th overall in 2013) Remi Elie of the Belleville Bulls (11 goals and 29 points in 27 games) and 2015 potential top five prospect Lawson Crouse of the Kingston Frontenacs, who has 12 goals in 24 games and plays a complete power game. RIGHT WING: If Curtis Lazar (Ottawa) and Anthony Duclair (New York Rangers) dont arrive from the NHL, the right side is more wide open than any position on the team. The only two natural right wingers invited are 1996-born Jake Virtanen, Vancouvers sixth overall pick in 2014 who plays for the Calgary Hitmen, and 1995-born Nick Baptiste, taken 69th overall in 2013 by Buffalo and recently traded from the Sudbury Wolves to the Erie Otters. Whether Lazar and/or Duclair are assigned to Team Canada, the staff would appear to believe there are enough other converted right wing options, including Fabbri, Ritchie, Dickinson, Point, Chartier and, if necessary, Reinhart to push Virtanen and Baptise. Noticeably absent from the right side is New York Islander 2104 first-round Josh Ho-Sang, recently traded from Windsor to Niagara in the OHL. Ho-Sang had a strong outing in the one Subway Super Series game he played (one goal and three points) and has four goals and 25 points in 17 OHL games this season. So Ho-Sang, a 1996 born, becomes to the 2015 WJC what Domi, a 1995 born, was one year ago. That is, a highly skilled but high-risk offensive talent whos going to be talked about greatly, especially if Canadas goal-medal drought extends to six years or notably if its medal-less drought were to go to three years. Of the 29 players invited, only three are from the QMJHL, though that number would have been higher if MacKinnon, Drouin and (injured) Jeremy Gregoire were available. There are 14 from the WHL, 12 from the OHL and none from the NCAA. Timothe Luwawu Jersey . -- Lindsey Vonn squeezed in a little freeskiing on Thanksgiving morning, a step in the right direction for a return to racing after reinjuring her right knee in a recent training crash. Wilt Chamberlain Jersey . Bouchard went down to a 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Svitolina in her opening match at the Sony Open on Friday. Bouchard got the rivalry going two years ago when she won the junior Wimbledon title over Svitolina. http://www.authentic76ersauthority.com/dario-saric-76ers-jersey-c-32/ . - A Tuesday funeral is planned in Toronto for 20-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward Terry Trafford.The thing about being granted exceptional player status is people expect immediate exceptional results.For Sean Day, those results did not materialize last season.Day, who was born in Belgium, played most of his minor hockey in Michigan and is a Canadian citizen, scored six goals and had 10 points in 60 games with the Mississauga Steelheads. He was a chilly minus-35.Day was the fourth player awarded exceptional status — which allows a player to enter the OHL draft before reaching the minimum age of 16 — following John Tavares (2005), Aaron Eckblad (2011) and Connor McDavid (2012), but the first not to be chosen first not to be chosen first overall in the Ontario Hockey Leagues Priority Selection.Day slipped to fourth overall, chosen by Mississauga behind Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67s), Dylan Strome (Erie Otters) and Matthew Spencer (Peterborough Petes).So you might think at the ripe old age of 16, Day is feeling pressure to have a breakout year.Not at all, said the six-foot-two, 225-pound defenceman. I still have another season before my draft year. I think its good for me that I played in the league last year and to still have this season to work on my game before my draft year.When Day first joined the Steelheads he played the way he did in minor hockey, which was to get the puck and take off with it. He was always bigger, stronger and faster than the majority of his opponents. Suddenly up against older players who were just as big and quick, Day found himself overmatched and his mistakes often ended up in the back of his teams goal.So when he returned to the Steelheads after participating with Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Day dialled back on his offence and started concentrating on being a more competent defensive player.Mississauga coach-GM James Boyd was impressed with Days development. Boyd said the Steelheads traded their top two scorers at mid-season and thus did not score as often, so Day was given more defensive responsibility and reacted favourably.His plus-minus improved dramatically and thatt was with his ice time going up, Boyd said. Amir Johnson Jersey. In the playoffs against a really good Oshawa team he played extremely well. There were times during the year I would scout a minor midget game in the evening and I just couldnt imagine Sean playing at that level. I couldnt picture him with his peers. I think it was a very good decision for him to play in the OHL.One problem with playing three years in the OHL before being eligible for the NHL Entry Draft is scouts have lots of time to dissect your game. In Days case, some scouts have questioned his hockey sense.Boyd is not only convinced Day will improve his decision making with experience, he believes Day is well on his way to becoming an impact player. Boyd said critics of Day should understand that when he joined the Steelheads, he basically had to learn the defensive game from scratch and there was steady improvement in his game.Boyd said Day will play in the Steelheads top four on the blue-line this season and will get plenty of time on special teams as well.This year Sean has really embraced the physical part of the game, Boyd said. Hes a big guy — really big guy — who skates extremely well and he has been finishing his checks. He is a lot more constant and assertive defensively.Day is a quiet kid who does not seek attention and takes things in stride. Asked about not being the first overall pick in 2013, Day suggested the teams that drafted ahead of Mississauga may not have needed a defenceman or perhaps they didnt like his game. No big deal, really. And how exactly did a 15-year-old fit in with his older teammates?I never really thought of myself as being younger than everyone and I dont feel they treated me differently, Day said. I came into the league thinking I was a rookie like every other rookie. I didnt use my age as an excuse if I made a mistake.Taking a more assertive role on the Steelheads, Day is excited for his sophomore season.Hopefully I can get more points, but still be a defensive threat, Day said.Sounds like an exceptional plan. 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