Warriors Mateychuk, Yager named to Team Canada for World Junior Hockey Championship

Moose Jaw Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk and forward Brayden Yager will be playing for gold with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

The duo were among 22 players named Wednesday evening to Canada’s roster for the 12-team event beginning Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

It’s the first time two Warriors have been named to Team Canada at the same time since defenceman Nathan Paetsch and forward Brian Sutherby were given the honour for the 2002 tournament.

The news wasn’t all good for Warrior hopefuls, though, as forward Jagger Firkus was among the half-dozen players returned to their respective clubs after the final USports exhibition game Wednesday.

Mateychuk was considered a virtual lock to make the team after getting off to a stellar start to the season, with six goals and 35 points in 24 games heading into selection camp.

The Columbus Blue Jackets first-rounder previously won gold with Canada at the 2021 World U18 Hockey Championship.

Yager will be the only Saskatchewan-born player on Canada’s roster, with the Saskatoon product having put up 17 goals and 41 points in 28 games thus far.

A first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins this past summer, Yager was one of Canada’s learning scorers at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he had five goals and nine points in five games on way to winning gold.

Firkus had been considered a solid choice to land a spot by the vast majority of onlookers, but Hockey Canada decided to overlook his skill and compete level as well as his 27 goals and 53 points in 29 games this season.

There will be little rest going forward for Mateychuk and Yager now that they’re members of Team Canada.

Canada’s National Junior Team will travel to Malmo, Sweden on Dec. 14 for a pre-tournament camp ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. As part of its preparations, Canada will open its pre-tournament schedule against a U25 team from Denmark on Dec. 19 before facing Switzerland on Dec. 22 and the United States on Dec. 23.

The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Finland at 7:30 a.m. Moose Jaw time.