3 Mooseheads invited to World Junior selection camp
Tryouts are in Ontario next week, but Hockey Canada has until Dec. 25 to decide
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Benoit-Olivier Groulx is one of three Halifax Mooseheads invited to the World Junior tryout in Oakville.Benoit-Olivier Groulx can’t wait to meet his potential teammates next week in Oakville, Ont., where he will try out for Canada’s World Junior Ice Hockey team.
Groulx is the oldest of three Halifax Mooseheads invited Monday to the World Junior selection camp. This is his first time trying out to represent Canada.
“I’m really just looking forward to play the games, just to get the nerves out of the way in that first shift, and really play my game on the national level,” says Groulx.
He says he has a strong two-way game, playing well both on the offensive line and falling back to defence when needed. Related stories
Groulx was named captain of the Mooseheads on Oct. 17 and is ready to make the city proud.
“I’m going to play my heart out for them,” says Groulx. “If I get the chance to represent my country, I’m also going to represent the Halifax Moosehead organization, and the Halifax city so, it would be a huge honour for me to represent them in the Czech Republic.”
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Jared McIsaac (left) and Raphael Lavoie (right) are invited to the World Junior selection camp.Jared McIsaac and Raphael Lavoie were also selected to attend the camp.
All three have been members of the Halifax Mooseheads since 2016 and have all taken part in an NHL draft: McIsaac to Detroit in 2018, Groulx to Anaheim in 2018 and Lavoie to Edmonton in 2019.
McIsaac made the World Junior team last year and got to represent Canada in Vancouver. He is one of only three players from across Canada invited back to camp.
The defenceman says he is looking forward to camp and finding his game after shoulder surgery in June.
“You want to make sure you’re ready mentally and physically as much as possible,” says McIsaac. “And that starts with playing good hockey before you go to camp and being confident at camp with your game.”
Like Groulx, Lavoie hasn’t played for the World Junior team. He played with McIsaac on the International Ice Hockey Federation U18 World Championship team in 2018.
“We have a lot of talent in Canada, so we’re going to be a good team in the tournament,” says Lavoie.
Hockey Canada has until Christmas Day to announce the final roster for the team.
The World Junior Championship will take place in Ostrava and Trinec, in the Czech Republic, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
About the author
Ellery Platts
Ellery is a fourth year student in the BJH program at King's. She is extremely passionate about sports and photography.