Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno joins Canada's world junior selection camp
19-year-old returns after limited role at last year's event
Canada's bid to bring gold home from the 2020 world junior hockey championship got a big boost Monday.
Hockey Canada announced the Detroit Red Wings have released centre Joe Veleno for the under-20 tournament that runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in the Czech Republic.
The 19-year-old has three goals and nine points in 25 games this season with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.
Selected 30th overall at the 2018 NHL draft, Veleno had two assists in five games in a limited role for Canada at last year's event when the hosts finished a disappointing sixth in Vancouver and Victoria.
The native of Kirkland, Que., joins a trio of fellow returning players — star winger Alexis Lafreniere, as well as defencemen Jared McIsaac and Ty Smith.
Canada was scheduled to open its selection camp Monday evening in Oakville with two days of practices before playing exhibition games Wednesday and Thursday against a team of university all-stars.
However, Veleno won't be present.
"You'd like to have your guys here, but it's not a priority," Hockey Canada head scout Brad McEwen said. "Detroit was gracious enough to allow him to play, and we're thankful for that."
The Canadians, who last won the world juniors two years ago in Buffalo, N.Y., have earned a combined 31 medals since 1977, including 17 gold.
Veleno's number don't jump off the page — he has three goals and nine points in 25 games this season with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League — but McEwen said there's lots to like.
"He's been playing good minutes in all situations," McEwen said. "He's been in our program so many times, and been a tremendous leader and mentor for our group. We're really excited that we got word that he's going to be part of it moving forward."
Veleno has had an up-and-down career since becoming the first player from Quebec granted exceptional status to play in the Canadian Hockey League as a 15 year old back in 2015.
He registered 43 points in 62 games as a QMJHL rookie and 40 in 45 contests during his second campaign. Veleno helped the Saint John Sea Dogs make the Memorial Cup in 2017, but was traded to the Drummondville Voltiguers the following December for five draft picks.
Still waiting to make his NHL debut, Veleno put up a combined 79 points in 64 games with the Voltiguers in 2017-18, and finally started to dominate in 2018-19 with 42 goals and 104 points in 59 outings as Drummondville made the league semifinals.
Canada is also waiting for word on two other players from last year's team currently in the NHL — Arizona Coyotes centre Barrett Hayton and New York Islanders defenceman Noah Dobson.
Kirby Dach, 18, was expected to be available, but the No. 3 pick at the 2019 draft has five goals and 10 points in 24 games for the Chicago Blackhawks this season.
Canada's selection camp roster
FORWARDS
- Quinton Byfield, Sudbury (OHL)
- Dylan Cozens, Lethbridge (WHL)
- Ty Dellandrea, Flint (OHL)
- Aidan Dudas, Owen Sound (OHL)
- Nolan Foote, Kelowna (WHL)
- Liam Foudy, London (OHL)
- Benoît-Olivier Groulx, Halifax (QMJHL)
- Dylan Holloway, U. of Wisconsin (NCAA)
- Peyton Krebs, Winnipeg (WHL)
- Alexis Lafrenière, Rimouski (QMJHL)
- Raphaël Lavoie, Halifax (QMJHL)
- Connor McMichael, London (OHL)
- Dawson Mercer, Drummondville (QMJHL)
- Alex Newhook, Boston College (NCAA)
- Jakob Pelletier, Moncton (QMJHL)
- Cole Perfetti, Saginaw (OHL)
- Akil Thomas, Niagara (OHL)
- Joe Veleno, Grand Rapids (AHL)
DEFENCEMEN
- Calen Addison, Lethbridge (WHL)
- Kevin Bahl, Ottawa (OHL)
- Jacob Bernard-Docker, U. of North Dakota (NCAA)
- Bowen Byram, Vancouver (WHL)
- Peter Diliberatore, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)
- Jamie Drysdale, Erie (OHL)
- Thomas Harley, Mississauga (OHL)
- Jared McIsaac, Halifax (QMJHL)
- Braden Schneider, Brandon (WHL)
- Ty Smith, Spokane (WHL)
GOALIES
- Nico Daws, Guelph (OHL)
- Joel Hofer, Portland (WHL)
- Hunter Jones, Peterborough (OHL)
- Olivier Rodrigue, Moncton (QMJHL)