Jake Virtanen of Abbotsford has been selected for Hockey Canada’s junior national team summer development camp in Quebec.
Virtanen and 40 other players will attend the camp, which will be held in Brossard, Montreal and Sherbrooke. They’ve got the inside track on selection for Canada’s team for the World Junior Championship, which runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Montreal and Toronto.
Virtanen, a highly rated prospect for this Friday’s NHL entry draft, won’t be able to participate in on-ice sessions at the summer camp – the 17-year-old winger underwent shoulder surgery on May 15 and recovery time is estimated at four to six months. But he should be game-ready well in advance of the World Juniors.
Virtanen has represented Canada internationally on two previous occasions – at the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament (gold medal) and at the 2014 World U18 Championship (bronze medal).
