Georgetown Raiders defenseman Matthew Cairns will represent Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge.
The final roster was chosen by Jason Clarke (Carleton Place, CCHL), along with assistant coaches Stéphane Blanchet (Longueuil, LHJQ), Mario Cicchillo (Toronto Jr. Canadiens, OJHL) and Marc Lafleur (Kirkland Lake, NOJHL), and director of hockey operations Gary McGee (Carleton Place, CCHL).
“Cairns is a physically imposing defender who sees the ice very well, making grade ‘A’ passes in transition and shows growing offensive abilities as he jumps up on the rush and adds support to the puck carrier,” Future Considerations head East scout Daniel Deschenes said. “Cairns is a mobile defender who has the ability to quarterback the power play at the WJAC and will likely be called on to man the point right away.”
Cairns has six goals and 21 points in 27 games for the Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL.
Canada East features three first year eligible defenders in Cairns, Sam Dunn, and Owen Grant, all of which play a physical game down low and can move the puck well, but it is Cairns that catches the eyes right away among a heavy backend.”
Goaltender Colton Point, who has a 2.71 goals against average and .889 save percentage for the Carleton Place Canadians, also made the team.
“Point has coveted size at 6-foot-3 and takes control in his crease fighting through traffic in front of him to track the puck and get set for the shot,” Deschenes said. “He appears comfortable in playing the puck and does an excellent job of eliminating second chances by deflecting the puck to the corners or smothering it right away.
“Point will most likely enter the tournament as Canada East’s starter and it will be his job to lose.”
The World Junior A Challenge will be held Dec. 13-19 in Cobourg and Whitby, Ont.
“There were no easy decisions to get our roster down to these 22 players,” Clarke said in a release. “These players are excited to wear the red and white of Team Canada, they’re excited to play in front of eastern Canadian fans in Cobourg and Whitby, and we can’t wait to get started.”