Kamloops Blazers defenceman Harrison Brunicke will be one of 32 players attending Canada’s World Junior’s selection camp (Image credit: CFJC Today/File photo).

By Aaron Schulze

Brunicke Invited

Blazers’ Brunicke, Kamloops local Mynio invited to Canada World Junior’s selection camp

Dec 2, 2024 | 8:45 AM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops Blazers defenceman and a Kamloops local were invited to Canada’s men’s World Junior Hockey team selection camp this month.

Hockey Canada announced that Harrison Brunicke will be one of 32 players invited to camp, which will be held from Dec. 10 to 13 in Ottawa.

The 18-year-old Blazers blueliner scored three goals and 12 points in 15 games during the 2024-25 Western Hockey League (WHL) season after returning from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ training camp and prior to suffering a broken wrist.

Brunicke will be joined by Blazers goaltending coach Dan De Palma, who was added to Team Canada’s coaching staff earlier this month. The pair won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Blazers captain Emmitt Finnie was left off the selection camp roster Monday. The 19-year-old Detroit Red Wings prospect, who has 17 goals and 37 points in 24 games this season, was hoping to earn an invite to camp.

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Kamloops local Sawyer Mynio, a Vancouver Canucks prospect, will also be part of selection camp. The 19-year-old defenceman has scored four goals and 17 points in 15 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2024-25 WHL season.

In all, seven players from last year’s World Juniors team that lost to Czechia in the quarterfinals are on the invite list – including McBride’s Tanner Molendyk, who played one season of minor hockey with the Thompson Blazers.

Following selection camp, which will include a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars, Team Canada will travel to Petawawa, Ont. for a four-day training camp from Dec. 15 to 18. They’ll also take on Switzerland, Sweden and Czechia in pre-tournament play.

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship begins Dec. 26, with Canada facing Finland in Ottawa at 4:30 p.m. PT.