This week Team Canada named their roster for this December's World Junior Hockey Tournament. The team cut down the roster from over 30 players to give the team their final tournament roster. One of the final cuts from the Team Canada roster was St. Louis Blues' prospect, Zachary Bolduc. Bolduc was cut along with Montreal Canadiens' prospect Owen Beck, Columbus Blue Jacket's prospect Jordan Dumais and Florida Panther's prospect Evan Nause.
Team Canada is the toughest team most of these players will ever have to make, because of this there are always good players who will be left off of the team's roster. There certainly are politics that go into some decisions, but for the most part the teams look to put together the best groups possible. Along the way there are certainly always going to be feelings hurt.
That seems to be the case with Bolduc. After returning to his juniors team, Bolduc aired his concerns about the Team Canada selection process. According to Bolduc he feels that Hockey Canada doesn't provide players from Quebec with the same opportunities as they do for players from other provinces.
This year's team is constructed of 3 players born in Quebec, 7 players from Ontario, 4 from British Columbia, 5 from Alberta, 2 from Saskatchewan and 1 from Newfoundland. Over the year's the OHL and WHL have developed more NHL players compared to the QMJHL, so does Bolduc have a point? Or is he just upset he hasn't made the team?
Bolduc was selected 17th overall by the Blues during the 2021 NHL Draft. He attended this year's prospect camp, but did not make the Blues team. In 25 games this season Bolduc has 17 goals and 29 assists for a total of 49 points.
