Two Red Wings draft picks have made Canada’s junior team for the upcoming World Junior Championships.
Goalie Jake Paterson, who plays for Saginaw in the Ontario Hockey League, and defenseman Xavier Ouellet, of Blaineville-Boisbrand in the Quebec Major Junior League, both were selected for the always powerful Canadian roster.
The tournament begins Dec. 26 in Russia.
Paterson (6-foot-1, 183 pounds) was a third-round pick in last summer’s draft and has emerged as an intriguing prospect.
Paterson is 11-12-3 with a .901 save percentage this season for the Spirit.
With Petr Mrazek, Tom McCollum and Paterson, goaltending is a position the Red Wings appear to have adequate depth in the organization.
Ouellet, an offensive defenseman, is averaging nearly a point (five goals, 20 assists) a game (26 games) this season.
The NHL Network will providing extensive coverage of the world junior tournament, one of the more underrated hockey events on the calendar.
Detroit Red Wings
Join the Conversation
The Detroit News aims to provide a forum that fosters smart, civil discussions on the news and events that we cover. The News will not condone personal attacks, off topic posts or brutish language on our site. If you find a comment that you believe violates these standards, please click the "X" in the upper right corner of the post to report it.