Dieppe hockey player named to Team Canada for world juniors

Dieppe's Philippe Myers was already having a terrific year on the ice but this week it got even better when he was named to Canada's national junior hockey team after taking part in the selection camp that wrapped up on Wednesday. 

The 19-year-old defenceman, who grew up watching the world junior championship tournament with his family every Christmas, is one of 22 players chosen to represent the country at the 2017 tournament which will be held in Toronto and Montreal beginning on Boxing Day.

• Canada shapes world junior roster with final 5 cuts

Myers, who plays for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, made the national team along with his teammate and fellow defenceman, Jérémy Lauzon.

Heading into the camp, Myers said he was hoping their chemistry on the ice would help them both to make the team.

Myers among best defenceman in the league

In 2015 Myers signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers after being invited to their training camp but at that time he had scored just 12 points in his first two seasons in the QMJHL.

At the end of the 2015-16 season the six-foot-five-inch tall Myers, who continued to work to improve his strength and speed, had 45 points. So far this season he has 18 points.

Dominique Ducharme, head coach of Canada's national junior team, said Myers is one of the best defenceman in the league.

"We've had a great selection camp, and I can see this group of players really beginning to work together and getting better every day," Ducharme said.

Another player with a New Brunswick connection who made the roster is forward Mathieu Joseph, who plays with the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The puck officially drops on the 2017 world junior championship on Dec. 26 when Canada faces Russia at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.