Beckett Sennecke deserved to be invited to Canada's World Junior selection camp all along Last night, Canada announced its 25-man roster for the upcoming 2025 World Junior Championship after playing a pair of games against the U SPORTS All-Star squad. A lot of the discussion surrounding the team has focused on Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-top-prospect-cut-from-canadas-roster] and third-overall pick Beckett Sennecke's [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-top-prospect-snubbed-from-canada-world-junior-selection-camp] exclusion from the team. However, there were many noteworthy players to make Canada's National Junior team including Utah Hockey Club [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/] first-round pick Cole Beaudoin. The Ottawa native leads a deep Barrie Colts roster that currently sits at the top of the Eastern Conference in the OHL. In 24 games this season, Beaudoin has scored 13 goals and added 16 assists for a total of 29 points. He is on pace to end the season with 34 goals, 42 assists and 76 total points which would be personal records in all categories. Beaudoin exemplifies the gritty 200-foot game that Head Coach Marty Williamson has drilled into his team. At 6-foot-2 Beaudoin is a budding power forward who uses his size and strength to his advantage while creating offensive chances. He is also a defensively responsible center who showcases his high hockey IQ filling in for defensive coverage and taking away critical passing lanes. This is exactly what he hopes to bring to Canada's World Junior team. "I want to bring my ability to play a 200-foot game," said Beaudoin. "Being able to go on the forecheck and be physical, be able to backcheck, be reliable in the D-zone and in the O-zone be able to make plays." These skills make Beaudoin a player that can be put on the ice in any situation. During both of the games against the U SPORTS all-stars, Beaudoin played extensively on the penalty kill which may indicate part of the role he will play for Canada. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GLTp9-jGNM[/embed] For Beaudoin making the National Junior squad this year is extra special because he has the opportunity to play in the city where he grew up. "It's definitely super special to have it in my hometown," said Beaudoin. "It's nice to play in my hometown in front of family, friends and my brothers." In preparation for the two games against the U SPORTS all-stars, Beaudoin spent a couple of days in Ottawa with his family. He was joined by fellow Barrie Colt Beau Akey who was also named to the 25-man roster. Beaudoin said that time with his family was a great opportunity to reset so he could come into the U SPORTS games with a clear mind. The young power forward has a history of winning for Canada. In 2023-24 he won a gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well as a second gold medal at the U-18 World Junior Championship. He will now have the opportunity to add a third gold medal to his shelf. Making the 25-man roster is just the beginning of the battle. The team has now gone to Petawawa where they will practice and work on forging an identity ahead of the upcoming exhibition games. The team is deep but it is also very young featuring elite talents like Porter Martone, Matthew Schaefer and Gavin McKenna as well as returners like Carson Rehkopf, Easton Cowan and Oliver Bonk. The team's first pre-tournament game takes place in just under a week on Dec. 19 when they will take on Switzerland. Their other two pre-tournament games will be against Sweden and Czechia. Canada's National Junior team has just over two weeks to prepare for the start of the tournament on Dec, 26. They will play their first game against Finland. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
