By Troy Gillard

Nation’s top players coming to town

Canada’s world junior selection camp coming to Red Deer

Oct 29, 2020 | 3:04 PM

Red Deer isn’t hosting any games for the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship as was planned, but our city is still playing a role in the event.

Hockey Canada announced on Thursday that its national junior team selection camp will be held at the Westerner Park Centrium from Nov. 16 through Dec. 13.

A total of 46 players have been invited to compete at the camp for a spot on Canada’s team that will play at the 2021 World Juniors in Edmonton. The tournament begins Christmas Day with Canada playing its opening game on Boxing Day versus Germany.

Red Deer was slated to co-host this year’s tournament alongside Edmonton before those plans changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Edmonton is now the sole host for this year’s event, which will be played with no fans at games, with Red Deer and Edmonton penciled in to co-host next year.

To ensure the health and safety of all participants and the community at large, Hockey Canada says it will be closely following enhanced measures around testing and team protocols at the selection camp.

no flag or crosswalk requests received

Didsbury citizens' group vehemently opposed to proposed 'Public Spaces Neutrality Bylaw'

23h ago

makin' stuff up!

Thurber improv team wins regionals, will head to Ottawa

Mar 20, 2026

travel occurred march 10

Measles exposure reportedly travelled from Calgary to Red Deer, Edmonton and Grande Prairie

Mar 20, 2026

The camp will include practices and three intrasquad games, as well as six games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars, between Nov. 28 and Dec. 13 before the team enters the bubble in Edmonton in preparation for the World Juniors.

Hockey Canada says the selection camp will be closed to the public and media.

“As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, Hockey Canada has taken important steps to maintain the health and safety of our National Junior Team athletes and staff, as well as the community at large, during selection camp and throughout the World Juniors,” said CEO Tom Renney. “As much as we would enjoy allowing fans into the building to support Team Canada throughout the camp, we need to be responsible as we look to keep all parties safe before teams enter the bubble in Edmonton.”

The 46 players invited to the selection camp in Red Deer includes six returnees who won gold at the 2020 World Juniors – Quinton Byfield (Newmarket, Ont./Sudbury, OHL), Bowen Byram (Cranbrook, B.C./Vancouver, WHL), Dylan Cozens (Whitehorse, Y.T./Lethbridge, WHL), Jamie Drysdale (Toronto/Erie, OHL), Connor McMichael (Ajax, Ont./London, OHL) and Dawson Mercer (Bay Roberts, N.L./Chicoutimi, QMJHL).

“Although this has been a difficult year for our athletes and staff, we are excited to unveil the 46 players who will compete for a spot on Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada. “We know our athletes are excited for the opportunity to defend gold on home ice this year, and we expect a highly competitive selection camp with a number of difficult decisions to be made when it comes time to select the players who will wear the Maple Leaf in Edmonton in December.”