Timmins, Katchouk crack Canadian roster

When the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship opens on Boxing Day, a pair of members of the Soo Greyhounds will be in action.

Following a 5-2 exhibition win over Denmark on Friday, Hockey Canada set the roster for the Canadian team at the 11-day event and Boris Katchouk and Conor Timmins will be among the 22 Canadian players.

When announcing the players invited to the selection camp, Hockey Canada Scout Brad McEwen spoke highly of both players.

“He’s been so consistent all year,” McEwen said of Katchouk. “He’s been a real driver for the Sault’s success to date and we really believe he can bring those same qualities to us in camp.

McEwen spoke of how solid Timmins was during the Canadian Hockey League’s series against Russia with Team OHL.

“The Russia games were really good,” McEwen said. “He played in a way that really caught our eye. He pushed the pace. He was really good with the puck, he was elusive. After that series, it made it easy to include him in the camp and we’re expecting big things.”

Team Canada opens the event on Boxing Day at the Key Bank Center at 4 p.m. against Team Finland.