Everett Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart and defenseman Noah Juulsen survived the first round of cuts for Hockey Canada’s World Juniors roster Tuesday at selection camp in Quebec.
Hart, who is widely considered to have the inside track to be Team Canada’s starting netminder, was perfect in two 30-minute appearances as Team Canada beat the Canadian University All-Stars 5-3 on Monday and 3-0 on Tuesday.
Hart saved all 10 shots he faced in Monday’s game and all four shots he faced Tuesday afternoon.
Juulsen, who was the last player cut from last year’s Team Canada roster, assisted Victor Mete for the game’s first goal on Tuesday.
The goal by Mete evidently wasn’t enough to keep him on the roster as he was one of four players cut Tuesday. Also cut by Team Canada were Kelowna’s Nick Merkley, Moose Jaw’s Brett Howden and Regina’s Austin Wagner.
The World Junior Championship begins Dec. 26 in Montreal and Toronto.
Seattle duo remains with respective camps
The Tips aren’t the only WHL U.S. Division team missing players to selection camps. Seattle is without Mathew Barzal and Alexander True as the league plays its final week of games prior to the week-long holiday break.
Barzal is a lock to make Team Canada after playing for the team last season, while True is also a lock to make Team Denmark after playing for the Danes at last year’s tournament.
Portland’s Caleb Jones is the only WHL player invited to Team USA’s selection camp, and Juuso Valimaki is away from the Tri-City Americans at Team Finland’s selection camp.
Home-ice advantage in Teddy Bear Toss games
The Teddy Bear Toss is one of the most-anticipated home games for any team in the WHL.
For those unfamiliar with concept, fans bring teddy bears to the rink and toss them on the ice after the home team scores its first goal. Players and fans alike enjoy it, but the practice can lead to a lengthy delay as the bears have to be cleaned up off the ice, rendering any momentum a team might have developed obsolete.
Last year Everett’s Connor Dewar scored the teddy bear goal less than three minutes into the game, but the Tips eventually lost 2-1 to the visiting Vancouver Giants.
That hasn’t been the case this year, however, as home teams are currently 12-4 in their toss games. The Tips fell 5-2 at Portland last Saturday as the Winterhawks held their event.
Everett’s Teddy Bear Toss is scheduled for this Saturday when Portland returns to Xfinity Arena.
Silvertips still top Western Conference
The Silvertips (22-4-5-0, 49 points) are still the top team in the Western Conference. However, Prince George (22-8-2-0, 46 points) could eclipse the Tips, while Tri-City (19-11-3-0, 41 points) could also move within four points of Everett by the time the Tips return to action Friday.
The caveat? Only one of those things can happen and it’s not a guarantee that either one will occur because the Americans are playing a mid-week, back-to-back series at Prince George this week.
Tri-City then comes back to Xfinity Arena Friday for the sixth match-up between the U.S. Division rivals this season.
Thurkauf, Ferguson honored by WHL
Kelowna Rockets forward Calvin Thurkauf was named the WHL Player of the Week Monday, while Dylan Ferguson of the Kamloops Blazers was named the WHL Goaltender of the Week.
Thurkauf scored eight goals with two assists in the Rockets went 3-1-0-0 last week.
Ferguson, who usually backs up Connor Ingram, was 1-0-0-1 with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.
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