File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

World Juniors

Blazers’ Brunicke unable to participate in Canada’s World Junior selection camp

Dec 6, 2024 | 11:38 AM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops Blazers defenceman who was invited to Canada’s men’s World Junior Hockey team selection camp next week will be unable to participate because of injury.

In a post to social media Friday (Dec. 6), Hockey Canada announced Harrison Brunicke has been replaced by Zayne Parekh – an 18-year-old defenceman and Calgary Flames prospect who has scored eight goals and 30 points in 23 games with the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League.

Brunicke’s hopes of making the team were derailed by a wrist fracture that he suffered on Nov. 10. Prior to his injury, the 18-year-old Blazers blueliner scored three goals and 12 points in 15 games during the 2024-25 Western Hockey League season.

Earlier this week, Brunicke told CFJC Today he was tending to his injury in the hopes of making it to Hockey Canada selection camp between Dec. 10 and 13 in Ottawa.

Brunicke’s absence means goaltending coach Dan De Palma will be the only Kamloops Blazers representative at the World Juniors. De Palma was added to Team Canada’s coaching staff as a goaltending consultant. Brunicke and De Palma won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship.

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Kamloops local Sawyer Mynio, a Vancouver Canucks prospect, will still 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.

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.