Fan In Van

Two Captains at WJC?

It’s starting to get colder in Vancouver, but as December rolls around there’s only one thing on my mind (besides trying hopelessly to acquire Olympic tickets for cheap): The upcoming World Junior Championships to be held in Saskatchewan, starting on Boxing Day.

The annual event seems to be getting better and more hyped every year. As Canada shoots for an unheard of sixth straight gold medal and the NHL places a higher emphasis on young players, fans are getting the chance to see tomorrow’s superstars play in an upbeat tournament.

If the NHL and the pursuit of the Stanley Cup compared to a marathon race, the World Junior Championships can be liked to a 100-metre sprint towards the finish line. And perhaps that’s why the WJC has increased its lustre over the years, because fans are privy to some in-your-face hockey where every game is played like it’s a player’s last.

As usual, this year’s tournament is being billed as just as exciting as the last, with several teenagers returning from Canada’s gold medal-winning roster which took it all in Ottawa. 15 players will not be back, though, and as a result Hockey Canada has opened the door for several new faces to earn some hardware between now and the New Year.

But among those returning faces will be Vancouver Canucks centre Cody Hodgson, who, despite an ailing back which has prevented him from suiting up for his junior team in Brampton, will be a strong candidate for the captaincy. Hodgson led the tournament last year in scoring and is a safe bet to receive the ‘C’ and a lock to at least get a letter on his chest.

What may come as an even larger surprise is the possibility that another Canuck prospect may receive a leadership role at the World Juniors. 2009 first-round selection Jordan Schroeder, who will be competing in his third tournament for the United States, may end up leading the Red, White, and Blue towards the goal of winning their first gold medal since 2004.

Despite his lacklustre performance in last year’s tournament and his not-so-hot start in his sophomore season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Schroeder is the kind of person who leads by example on the ice. His quick release wrist shot is sure to terrorize goaltenders in this year’s tournament again.

Like Hodgson, Schroeder is a virtual lock to at least receive a letter. Other candidates like Mitch Wahl and highly-touted 2010 draft selection Cam Fowler will receive consideration, but given Schroeder’s resume and qualifications, it’s entirely possible he can receive the captaincy.

In other WJC news, Vancouver’s second-round selection in 2009, Swedish forward Anton Rodin, rounds out the three Canuck prospects who were selected to their respective nations’ preliminary rosters. Rodin is a flashy skater who scores some pretty remarkable goals but certainly will not be mistaken to be Sweden’s game breaker.