LATEST | Top Canucks prospect wildly disrespected
Team USA Hockey announced their preliminary roster for the 2024 World Juniors, and the absence of a certain Vancouver Canucks prospect sticks out.
Hunter Brzustewicz is a right shooting defenceman picked 75th overall in 2023 by the Canucks and since the season began he has looked like a first round talent.
The 19 year old has 46 points in 28 games with the OHL leading Kitchener Rangers, good for 3rd in the league and trailing only two Kitchener teammates.
Shockingly, that torrid pace wasn't enough to earn him a spot on team USA's preliminary National Junior roster for 2024.
Of the 10 defenseman named to the roster, none play in the CHL, and only 3 members of the entire 24 man roster are CHL players - the rest playing in the NCAA.
While only drafted last June, Brzustewicz has a late November birthday, meaning this year will be his final season eligible to play at the World Juniors.
Fans were also surprised to see projected #2 overall pick Cole Eiserman left off of the preliminary roster.
The World Junior Championship kicks off on Boxing Day in Gothenburg, Sweden.
https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2024wjcroster
| POLL | ||
Should he have been invited to the team's camp? | ||
| Yes, at the very least | 292 | 38.8 % |
| No | 117 | 15.5 % |
| Yes, should've been on the roster | 344 | 45.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
