The Christmas Holiday tradition that is the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship is always great, but that is even better when the team you follow has prospects playing in the tournament that you can get the opportunity to check in on.
Last year was a bounty for Senators fans, as Curtis Lazar was the Captain of Team Canada and Nick Paul was also a big contributor to the squad that broke a 5 year gold medal drought by winning it all in Toronto.
Judging from the current summer development camps that are going on, it appears as though the Senators could have a handful of prospects suiting up for their country in December.
Thomas Chabot was a late addition to the Team Canada camp and will be in tough to make a deep Canadian squad, although by all reports he played solid in his two games and recorded a pair of assists (I was unable to see much more than a few minutes here and there due to other commitments). Getting in the mix is important for Canadian hopefuls, to get on the radar of the coaches and to let them get to know the player and the person you are before the tough decisions have to be made in December. Chabot used a strong second half to get into that mix and he can earn a spot in the first couple of months next season.
Colin White, the Senators' other first round pick this past June is attending the USA Evaluation camp and will get a chance to make an impression as well.
Filip Chlapik (2nd rd, 48th overall) played for the Czech Republic squad and scored a goal against Canada in the summer showcase, and Andreas Englund (2014, 40th overall) is on the Swedish roster for their mini-tournament with Finland and the USA in Lake Placid.
In addition to those players that are currently involved in various training camps, Christian Jaros (2015, 139th overall) will be a pretty good bet to make the Slovakian squad.
White and Chabot will be in tough given the current depth of both Canada and the USA, but there could easily be a handful of Senators prospects donning their National colors which will make getting up early (the tournament is in Helsinki) even more worthwhile, even for games Canada is not playing in.
It also speaks to the depth that Bryan Murray and the scouting staff of the Senators has built over the last few years. There was a time where Senators prospects at the WJHC were few and far between.