Canada’s World Junior roster was set this week and I just thought I’d take some time to comment on the team.

Here’s a list of the guys, their home towns, and who owns their rights.

Goalies
Devan Dubnyk L 6′5 182 5/4/86 Calgary, AB Kamloops (WHL) EDM
Justin Pogge L 6′3 185 4/22/86 Penticton, BC Calgary (WHL) TOR

Defence
Cam Barker L 6′3 220 4/4/86 Winnipeg, MB Medicine Hat (WHL) CHI
Luc Bourdon L 6′2 199 2/16/87 Shippagan, NB Val d’Or (QMJHL) VAN
Kristopher Letang R 5′11 190 4/24/87 Montreal, QC Val d’Or (QMJHL) PIT
Ryan Parent L 6′2 183 3/17/87 Sioux Lookout, ON Guelph (OHL) NSH
Sasha Pokulok R 6′5 230 5/25/86 Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC Cornell (NCAA) WAS
Kris Russell L 5′10 166 5/2/87 Caroline, AB Medicine Hat (WHL) CBJ
Marc Staal L 6′3 196 1/13/87 Thunder Bay, ON Sudbury (OHL) NYR

Forwards
Daniel Bertram R 5′11 175 1/14/87 Calgary, AB Boston College (HC) CHI
Michael Blunden R 6′3 213 12/15/86 Gloucester, ON Erie (OHL) CHI
David Bolland R 5′11 176 5/6/86 Mimico, ON London (OHL) CHI
Dustin Boyd L 6′0 185 7/16/86 Winnipeg, MB Moose Jaw (WHL) CGY
Kyle Chipchura L 6′1 209 2/19/86 Vimy, AB Prince Albert (WHL) MTL
Andrew Cogliano L 5′9 178 6/14/87 Woodbridge, ON Michigan (NCAA) EDM
Blake Comeau R 6′1 207 2/18/86 Meadow Lake, SK Kelowna (WHL) NYI
Steve Downie R 5′10 189 4/3/87 Queensville, ON Peterborough (OHL) PHI
Guillaume Latendresse L 6′2 222 5/24/87 Ste-Catherine, QC Drummondville (QMJHL) MTL
Ryan O’Marra R 6′1 194 6/9/87 Mississauga, ON Erie (OHL) NYI
Benoit Pouliot L 6′3 179 9/29/86 Ottawa, ON Sudbury (OHL) MIN
Tom Pyatt L 5′11 180 3/14/87 Thunder Bay, ON Saginaw (OHL) NYR
Jonathan Toews L 6′2 185 4/28/88 Winnipeg, MB North Dakota (NCAA)

If you follow Junior hockey then you’re already familiar with these players. But the suggestion that this is really a “no-name” team is absolutely valid. Half these guys are 18, which is probably why the US and Russia are early favourites to smack Canada in the mouth. You’ve got to question the leadership and maturity on a roster that includes a 17 year-old.

Justin Pogge, G for the Calgary Hitmen, will be starting in the net for Canada. His style reminds me a little of Ron Tugnutt, and I don’t know that Sutter’s all too confident in him back there. And goaltending will be this team’s downfall. Not that they’re particularly great at F/D, but there’s no way they play 3-2 games. On a team that’s this young, and this inexperienced, things could get out of control and immaturity could take over.

The team’s big, and rangy; they’re quick and definitely tough. This was a team built to take advantage of the North American rink, and play a Canadian style forecheck.

Your captain’s Kyle Chipchura of the Prince Albert Raiders. He’s a Gary Roberts, Mike Peca type player who hits and score, and uses his 200+ pounds. He actually reminds me a lot of Kyle Wellwood.

Canada and Finland are in Group A with the U.S., Switzerland and Norway and those games will be played at Pacific Coliseum.

Russia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Latvia are in Group B and will play their preliminary games in Kamloops and Kelowna. The medal-round games will be held at GM Place.