CALGARY — The Canadian junior men’s hockey team has some reinforcements from the NHL.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have released Brett Connolly to the team and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks have done the same with Devante Smith-Pelly. Both are 19-year-old wingers.
The junior team’s selection camp opens Saturday in Calgary. The addition of the two players brings the roster up to 43.
Twenty-two will be chosen next week to represent Canada in the 2012 world junior men’s hockey championship starting Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Calgary.
Connolly was a member of the Canadian team that took silver at the 2011 tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.
Canada led 3-0 heading into the third period of the championship game, but Russia exploded for five unanswered goals to take the title. Connolly, from Prince George, B.C., had three assists in seven games in Buffalo.
Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman told the The St. Petersburg Times he decided to loan the rookie to Canada because the experience will help Connolly’s game.
“It’s important for these young guys to play in these big events and in pressure games,” Yzerman told The St. Petersburg Times. “They make you better. We still want him here, but what’s best for Brett Connolly in the long run is best for us all. I’m confident this is the right thing for him.”
Connolly, six foot two and 192 pounds, has four goals and eight points in 28 games for the Lightning. Tampa Bay drafted him sixth overall in 2010.
Smith-Pelly wasn’t on Canada’s roster in 2011, but was a revelation at the junior team’s summer camp in August. He used his six-foot, 207-pound frame to create space for himself and linemates Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jaden Schwartz.
The Ducks drafted Smith-Pelly in the second round, 42nd overall, and the Toronto native has contributed three goals and two assists in 26 games with Anaheim this season.
“He’s improving each day as an NHL player and we hope he can continue his progress after playing for his country,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said in a statement. “We fully expect him to play a prominent role in the upcoming tournament for Canada.”
Connolly and Smith-Pelly were two of eight NHL players eligible to play for the Canadian junior team. Boston Bruins forward Tyler Seguin and Carolina’s Jeff Skinner are already in their second year in the NHL and weren’t considered possibilities.
The Edmonton Oilers have already declared Nugent-Hopkins, the first overall pick in this year’s draft, will remain with the NHL club.
Forwards Ryan Johansen (Columbus) and Sean Couturier (Philadelphia) and defenceman Erik Gudbranson (Florida) are also age eligible to play in the tournament.
Hockey Canada’s policy is all players must report to selection camp Saturday in order to be considered for the Canadian team. The invited players, all born in 1992 or later, arrive Saturday in Calgary and hit the ice for the first time Sunday.