World Junior Hockey Championship: The Canadian Contingent

Team Canada has been named. For the next three weeks, 22 teenagers will go from relative obscurity to the National spotlight.

Every year, this tournament seems to create two or three new heroes. Who can forget Jordan Eberle's last second tying goal in the 2009 Semi-Final against Russia? Or the shootout performances of Jonathan Toews and Carey Price at the 2007 Tournament in Leksand? Or John Slaney's Gold Medal winning blast from the point in 1991?

Who could be this year's hero? Who will be this year's go-to guys? Who's going to bring the offence? Who is going to be this year's big defensive pairing along the lines of Weber-Phaneuf or Parent-Staal?

Height: 6'1.5"

Weight: 198

Hometown: Waterdown, Ontario

CHL Team: Niagara Ice Dogs

What He Brings: Visentin is the kind of goaltender that Hockey Canada loves. He's a big, fundamentally sound goaltender that seems to bring a stable game every night. He provides excellent grounding for his team simply because he makes himself big, cuts down angles and tries to smother rebounds.

Visentin has emerged from camp as the prohibitive favourite to be the starter. This year's team has been notable for the small number of returnees, but Visentin is eligible to return to the National Junior Team next year if the Phoenix Coyotes choose to return him to the OHL.

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 186

Hometown: Causapscal, Quebec

CHL Team: Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)

What He Brings: Roy was the favourite to start for Team Canada at the beginning of the year. But he was fighting tooth and nail for the final goaltending job with Calvin Pickard by the end of camp.

Roy is a smaller goaltender with electric reflexes. He has that renowned "big save" ability that a lot of coaches look for. His goaltending style lends itself to dictating the pace of the game; you're forced to remember that he's always a big save away from breathing new life into his team.

There's a reason that he set marks in the Q a few seasons ago for shutouts and wins by a sixteen year-old goaltender.

Height: 5'9.5"

Weight: 184

Hometown: Freelton, Ontario

CHL Team:  Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

What He Brings: Ellis has two World Juniors under his belt in addition to two Memorial Cups. For the third year in a row, he'll run the Canadian powerplay. With his hockey sense and big, booming shot, Ellis' offensive contributions from the point will need to be plentiful without a true superstar in the forward part of the line up.

Many expect that Ellis will be the Captain of this year's Team Canada. Even if he isn't, he'll play a substantial leadership role for Team Canada on the blue-line. Ellis had a couple rough games against the Americans last year, so expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder.

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 189

Hometown: Carp, Ontario

CHL Team: Oshawa Generals (OHL)

What He Brings: De Haan is one of three returning defenders from last year's silver medal winning team. When Travis Hamonic went down in the Semi-Final game against Switzerland, a lot of his minutes went to the quiet and steady de Haan.

As a defenseman, de Haan brings a very reliable offensive and defensive game. He's a heads up passer with great mobility in all directions. He doesn't initiate a lot of physical play but he also doesn't shy away from it. He'll be expected to log some huge minutes in all situations for Canada at this tournament.

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 227

Hometown: Allan, Saskatchewan

CHL Team: Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

What He Brings: In all honesty, Jared Cowen was made the goat on last year's World Junior team when Canada failed to win Gold. He was ragged on for his plodding mobility, particularly against American speedsters Chris Kreider and Jerry D'Amigo. You can bet some Canadian fans will have that in the back of their minds as they watch Cowen in the pre-tournament games.

At his best, Cowen is a solid defensive defender who brings good physicality and gap control to the line up. Few defenders in the CHL are better at angling off opposing forwards and running them out of room. He's very capable of clearing the front of the net and should be logging huge minutes for Canada as the other returning defenseman.

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 211

Hometown: Orleans, Ontario

CHL Team: Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

What He Brings: Erik Gudbranson was compared to Chris Pronger prior to last year's draft. That might really say it all. Gudbranson is a big defenseman with great reach and excellent feet. He's capable of playing in all situations.

His big shot allows him to contribute on the powerplay while his strong skating and physicality make him an asset at even strength and on the penalty kill. He formed half of a very strong pairing with Jared Cowen during camp, even though he had a poor game against the CIS All-Stars at the very end of camp. Look for he and Cowen to form what Pierre MacGuire is sure to call "the Towers of Power"

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 223

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

NCAA Team: University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA)

What He Brings: Olsen was paired with Calvin de Haan at the 2009 IIHF U-18 Tournament in Fargo/Moorhead on what was then Canada's top pairing. We're sure to see them reunited for this tournament on what could eventually prove to be Canada's most effective defensive pairing.

Olsen is a big defender with great physical presence and a big, booming shot in addition to having good lateral mobility. He is de Haan's complimentary piece, bringing the side of the game that the smaller, slicker defender from the Oshawa Generals lacks.

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 222

Hometown: Laval, Quebec

CHL Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

What He Brings: Despres is a superb skater for a big man. He's very offensively capable and his ability with the puck is likely to come in handy if he's partnered with Ryan Ellis. He's capable of mixing things up physically. That, in combination with his physical play, helps to make him one of the top two-way defenders in the whole CHL.

Despres, like Gudbranson, Olsen and de Haan is capable of contributing on both sides of special teams play. His other contributions will be maturity and experience having played internationally for Canada in the past and in the QMJHL Championship last season.

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 190

Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia

CHL Team: Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

What He Brings: Really, what would Team Canada be without a member of the Kelowna Rockets playing defence? Barrie is the reigning WHL Defenseman of the Year, which helped give him the edge over Ryan Murray and Ryan Murphy in camp.

Barrie is a superb offensive defenseman with a style that's very similar to that of teammate Ryan Ellis. He's a smaller defender reliant on his hockey sense and skill with the puck to make an impact on the game. What earned him an advantage over Murphy and Murray in camp is his age and experience. Barrie has played in a Memorial Cup and won that Defenseman of the Year trophy.

He is, essentially, injury insurance for the Team Canada coaching squad. If one of the other six defenders is injured over the course of the tournament, Barrie can play a regular shift without being a liability against this top level competition.

Height: 6'0.5"

Weight: 199

Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

CHL Team: Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

What He Brings: Brayden Schenn is a leader. He's the only forward returning from last year's team and is the only forward on the team with significant NHL experience. He'll be the anchor of the forward corps and probably the first line centre.

After last year's tournament, most people know what Brayden Schenn brings to the game. He's a rugged centre, a responsible two-way player and a great puck distributing pivot. He's the other candidate to be the Captain of this team.

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 184

Hometown: Emerald Park, Saskatchewan

NCAA Team: Colorado College Tigers (WCHA)

What He Brings: Jaden Schwartz is an offensive dynamo. This kid has such good hands and such high calibre hockey senses that he might win the Hobey Baker Award as a freshman. He'll be one of the players counted on to score at key moments in this tournament.

Schwartz's dynamic offensive abilities make him a leading candidate to be this year's "Jordan Eberle".

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 181

Hometown: Point-Clare, Quebec

CHL Team: Montreal Junior (QMJHL)

What He Brings: Okay, so you're the most highly touted French-Canadian in the draft. The draft is being held in Montreal. When the Canadiens are on the clock, the crowd begins to chant your name. I'm sure this is a dream for a lot of kids, but Superman probably didn't have that much pressure on him to save a city.

Leblanc is a top two-way forward. His stellar hockey sense makes him an offensive threat, but it also makes him a player with the ability to turn defence into offence. Expect Leblanc to play Right Wing on one of the scoring lines and contribute on the penalty kill.

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 193

Hometown: Port Moody, British Columbia

CHL Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

What He Brings: Ryan Johansen was widely viewed as the only player in last year's draft, not named Tyler Seguinm, with the potential to develop into a franchise centre as a pro. In this tournament, he'll be expected to be the second line centre behind Brayden Schenn.That means he'll be counted on to provide some secondary scoring when the Schenn line draws the other team's top defenders.

Johansen is a big body centre whose capable in a role both as a scorer and a set up man. He'll be especially deadly playing with a power forward like Zack Kassian, similar to the role that Nino Niederreiter plays alongside of him in Portland.

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 225

Hometown: LaSalle, Ontario

CHL Team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

What He Brings: The crazy. Kassian is big, he runs guys over and he instigates scuffles. That helps him draw penalties, but he'll also take penalties. That having been said, Kassian is the prototypical power forward. He's damned near impossible to take off the puck, he drives the net fearlessly and is just about unbeatable along the wall.

Kassian will likely play Right Wing on one of the two top lines. The goal will be to make room for some of the more naturally talented offensive players but also to protect them in the event that a few liberties are taken.

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 181

Hometown: Port Hardy, British Columbia

CHL Team: Prince George Cougars (WHL)

What He Brings: Connolly might be the most dangerous sniper left in the CHL. With his hockey sense, skating and shot, Connolly is a threat to score both off the rush and on the cycle. In spite of his size, Connolly isn't a power forward in the mold of teammates Zack Kassian or Marcus Foligno. His comparisons are more in the line of a Patrick Marleau or Jeff Carter where his size is merely a tool of his offensive ability rather than it's primary component.

Expect Connolly to play the wing on one of the scoring lines.

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 195

Hometown: Bathurst, New Brunswick

CHL Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

What He Brings: Couturier is a big centre with serious offensive ability. He's also known for having considerable defensive ability that begs for comparisons to Jordan Staal. Expect him to drop the top defensive assignments for just that reason. Like Leblanc, Couturier has the kind of hockey sense that allows him to easily turn defence into offence. His size is ideal for a shutdown centre.

Hockey Canada likes going with a bigger, aggressive shutdown centre. For the last two years, Patrice Cormier helped fill the role and the year before him it went to Brandon Sutter, so Couturier is easily the most offensive presence to be entrusted with that defensive responsibility.

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 192

Hometown: Oak Bank, Manitoba

CHL Team: Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

What He Brings: Howden is a swift skating winger with a great wrist shot. Like Couturier, he also carries the reputation of being one of the best two-way forwards in his league. Howden seems like a natural fit alongside Couturier as Canada's top shutdown option among the forwards. His ability to skate makes him an effective transition presence but it also makes him a breakaway threat on the penalty kill.

There are observers who will see some Patrick Sharp in him.

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 187

Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba

CHL Team: Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

What He Brings: Eakin is pure speed and scoring. His ability to go from zero to sixty is going to make him valuable regardless of where he plays in the lineup. Like Howden, his speed and scoring ability make him a breakaway threat on the penalty kill if he's employed in that role. If not, he still remains a quality depth scoring option.

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 191

Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario

CHL Team: Mississauga Majors (OHL)

What He Brings: Cizikas is an ideal checking line centre for this team. He's a good enough skater and has good enough hands that he can be dangerous on the forecheck. Where he's going to do the most good is in the faceoff circle and physically along the wall. If he can give Team Canada some good minutes offensively just by generating pressure behind the goal-line in the offensive zone, he will have achieved his purpose.

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 219

Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

CHL Team: Tri-City Americans (WHL)

What He Brings: Ashton fills the role of a big body banger who can make open ice. In this role, he could be placed anywhere including alongside Brayden Schenn (with whom he played minor hockey in Saskatoon).

It's easy to see him filling a role similar to the one that Luke Adam played on last year's team. Charged with being a complimentary offensive weapon and a physical player, Ashton will find himself of great use against some of the tournament's smaller defenders like Finland's Sami Vatanen or Russia's Dmitri Orlov.

Height: 6'1.5"

Weight: 200

Hometown: Sudbury, Ontario

CHL Team: Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

What He Brings: Marcus Foligno is playing in his birthplace. The Sabres prospect was actually born in Buffalo and returns there this holiday season wearing enemy colours. His brother, Nick, plays internationally for the United States so the Folignos joins a series of hockey brothers to have ended up on opposing sides in international contests.

Foligno is a gritty leader. He's capable of changing the pace of a game with a hit or a goal. You'll never see him take a shift off. His skillset could lend himself to playing up on the scoring lines if they need a spark, but his ideal spot would be next to Cizikas on the energy unit.

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 202

Hometown: Kelowna, British Columbia

CHL Team: Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

What He Brings: Hamilton is a big scorer. He's able to fill a role both as a scoring forward and as an energy forward. The worry for some watching Team Canada is that he doesn't play his size. Ashton, Foligno and Kassian are all power forwards but few would classify Hamilton as such. Canadian fans focused similar dissatisfaction on Greg Nemisz at last year's tournament who seemed to refuse to play to his size.

Hamilton primarily employs his size with puck protection and strength on the cycle and off the rush. This allows him to draw penalties without taking many. He could effectively be placed on any line, which was likely the motivation behind bringing him along.