Sharks prospect Ryan Merkley entered Monday with more points to his name than all but one under-20, Canadian defenseman playing in Canada’s top three major-junior leagues.
That wasn’t enough to earn a look from Hockey Canada for the World Juniors.
San Jose’s 2018 first-round pick was not among the 34 players listed on Canada’s selection camp roster Monday, as the country tries to narrow down its roster to 23 names ahead of this month’s World Junior Championships in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.
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SIGN UP HERE Merkley impressed in his first professional training camp this fall, before returning to the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm on Sept. 26. He played 21:08 per game in three preseason contests with the Sharks, according to Natural Stat Trick, all about a month after he turned 18.
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He put up plenty of points almost immediately after rejoining the Storm, leading Guelph in assists (32) and tying for the team lead in points (36). Merkley led OHL defensemen in both categories -- and points per game (1.44) -- entering Monday.
Merkley may not be there when puck drops on the tournament Dec. 26, but it’s possible a few Sharks prospects will.
Russian forward Ivan Chekhovich, who San Jose selected in the seventh round in 2017, played for his country against all-star teams from Canadian junior last month. He was tied for fourth in points (44) in the Quebec Major Junior League entering Monday, and led the Q with 23 goals.
Fellow 2017 draftee Sasha Chmelevski was tied for 11th (with Merkley) in the OHL with 36 points on Monday, and the California-born prospect suited up for the United States at this summer’s World Junior Summer Showcase. The Ottawa 67s forward extended his point streak to seven games with a goal and an assist Sunday.
Russia, the United States, and the rest of the field are set to announce their preliminary rosters in the coming days after Canada, the Czech Republic, and Finland did so Monday.