With the holidays fast-approaching, sports fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the World Junior hockey championships, an annual tournament for players under the age of 20.
However, Barrie Colts fans could have an extra reason to cheer on Team Canada this year.
Earlier this week, Canada announced the 32 players that will compete for a roster spot in the team’s selection camp — and two Colts received invitations.
Both defenceman Beau Akey and forward Cole Beaudoin will travel to the nation’s capital next week for the camp before the tournament gets underway in Ottawa on Boxing Day.
Beaudoin, a first-round pick of the Utah Hockey Club this past summer, has had a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign, as he leads the team in scoring with 11 goals and 15 assists in only 21 games. He’s also played some of his best hockey over the past two weeks, racking up nine points in Barrie’s last four games.
Beaudoin, who was born in Ottawa, will be looking to replicate past success he’s had representing Canada at the international level, having previously won gold in both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and U18 World Juniors.
Akey was one of 10 defencemen invited to the pre-tournament camp. It will be the last opportunity for Akey to make the team, as he’s set to turn 20 next February.
Through 22 games, Akey, a 2023 second-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers, has posted 16 points and is a team-leading plus-9 in his fourth year with the Colts.
In a statement posted on the team’s website, the Colts congratulated both players for being invited to the camp.
There were no Colts on last year’s Canadian roster, though Barrie alumnus Brandt Clarke was part of the 2023 gold medal-winning team in Halifax, N.S.
Meanwhile, Barrie’s starting goalie, Sam Hillebrandt, was announced as part of the U.S. team’s preliminary roster this week. He was one of three netminders named to the squad, meaning, while the roster won’t be finalized until Dec. 24, he’s effectively made the team.
Hillebrandt was a member of last year’s American team, which emerged victorious after drubbing the host Swedes by a score of 6-2 in the gold medal game, though he served as the third-string goalie.
It’s unlikely he’ll be in contention for the starting job for this year’s team, as Trey Augustine, who was between the pipes during last year’s gold medal game, is also eligible to play in this year’s tournament.
Hillebrandt will be competing with Hampton Slukynsky, who has posted strong numbers in his rookie season at Western Michigan University, for the back-up job.
Hillebrandt, who’s originally from Florida, is on track for the best statistical season of his junior hockey career. In 19 games, he’s won 11 and posted a .905 save percentage.
