Image credit: Hockey Canada

By Tim O'Donovan - Kamloops Blazers

Zary and Garand

Two Blazers on national junior team for World Championship Tournament

Dec 11, 2020 | 10:24 AM

KAMLOOPS — Forward Connor Zary and goaltender Dylan Garand have been selected to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team that will compete in Edmonton December 25 – January 5^th at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Saskatoon native was selected in the first round, 24^th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames. During the 2019-20 season, Zary had 38 goals, 48 assists and 86 points in 57 games. He was named to the WHL’s Western Conference First All-Star team.

WATCH CFJC’S FULL CONVERSATION WITH CONNOR ZARY:

Zary has previous Hockey Canada experience playing in the 2019 Under-18 World Championships in Sweden.

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Zary is among 14 forwards named to the roster and all the forwards are first-round NHL Draft picks. The 19-year-old was released from Hockey Canada’s selection camp last year in December 2019.

Garand is one of three goaltenders on the roster and one of only five 18-year-olds on the roster. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers earlier this month.

The Victoria, BC native had a record of 28-10-2-1 in 42 games with the Blazers during the 2019-20 season. He posted a franchise-best 2.21 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. He was also named the WHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year.

Garand has represented Hockey Canada at every level of international competition including the Under-17 and Under-18 programs.

The Blazers are one of two teams in the CHL with two players on the roster. The last time the Blazers were represented by two players on Canada’s World Junior roster was in 2002 with Jared Aulin and Scottie Upshall.