Blazers forward Connor Zary feels he "got screwed over a bit" in reaction to being left off Canada's world junior selection camp roster (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

WORLD JUNIORS

Zary ‘pissed off’ he’s not on Canada’s World Junior selection camp roster

Dec 2, 2019 | 2:38 PM

KAMLOOPS — Connor Zary didn’t hold back Monday on how he feels about not earning a spot at the 2020 World Junior selection camp later this month.

“It’s something I really wanted to do was be there, and obviously I’m a bit pissed off that I’m not,” said Zary. “But I’ve got a big road trip here going close to home and lots of friends and family, so I’m going to use that as motivation to be at home and play really well and try to lead the league in scoring by the end of that.”

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Zary is fourth in league scoring with 39 points — a point behind Dylan Cozens from Lethbridge who’s on the list. Zary is also second in goals with 19, tops in powerplay goals with eight, and tied for first in shorthanded goals with three.

“I can only control what I can control, but I thought I showed quite a bit in the last couple months. Obviously having 19 goals and almost 40 points now is something I really worked towards,” said Zary. “I got my name in that conversation. Into November, I really tried to step up my play. I scored 14 goals in November, so I kind of thought that would be enough. But the hockey world’s a weird place.”

The World Junior selection camp snub comes on the heels of Zary being listed as a B-list prospect in October before he was upgraded to an ‘A’ last month.

The Saskatoon native doesn’t feel disrespected but feels he should be at the camp, which runs from Dec. 9 to 12 in Oakville, Ont. Zary says he’ll use it as motivation.

“Yeah, I think that’s the kind of the only thing you can do with it, is use for motivation moving forward,” he said. “I got screwed over a bit, maybe, but things happen, and like I said before, I’ve got a year to prove them wrong.”