NHL draft pick Jamie Oleksiak to try out for Team Canada, not USA

THN.com has learned mammoth defenseman Jamie Oleksiak will try out for Canada’s World Junior Championship team this year, not the American squad.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound blueliner has dual citizenship and was a late cut from Team USA last season. A first round pick in 2011 (Dallas, 14th overall), Oleksiak was a standout player at Northeastern University, where he collected four goals and 13 points in 38 games as a freshman. Though the youngster was born in Toronto, Oleksiak’s father is from Buffalo.

Ironically, Oleksiak also must decide where he will play next season, too. Northeastern coach Greg Cronin left for a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Saginaw of the Ontario League owns the defender’s major junior rights. With his career flourishing in such quick fashion, suiting up for the Spirit is an enticing option.