Hockey Canada has made their roster cuts ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. Philadelphia Flyers prospect and London Knights defenseman Oliver Bonk has made the team, while Flyers prospect and Knights forward Denver Barkey was one of the players cut.
Team Canada has a roster spot available, but it is likely being kept open in case an NHL player, such as Sabres forward Zach Benson or Bruins forward Matthew Poitras, is loaned by their respective club.
Bonk, the 22nd overall pick selected by the Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft, has had a stellar season with London. The 6’2”, 179-pound blueliner has racked up 6 goals and 24 assists for 30 points in just 28 games. Compare that to when Bonk scored 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points in 68 games last season, and it’s clear how much he has improved.
Bonk last appeared internationally in the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with the Canada U18 squad, where he was teammates with Flyers goaltending prospect Carson Bjarnason. The Ottawa, Ontario native recorded zero points in 5 games as the Red and White clinched their 23rd gold medal at the event.
As for Barkey, his cut comes as a surprise. He had seemed to be playing well and was developing nice chemistry. He had scored a goal and chipped in with an assist in Canada’s first exhibition against Team USPORTS and was finding his rhythm with Knights teammate and Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan.
Barkey has recorded 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points in 28 games for London. The third-round pick by Philadelphia in the 2023 NHL Draft leads the Knights in points, respectively.
Should Hockey Canada not receive a player on loan from an NHL team, Barkey could potentially stick as the final forward on the roster. Regardless, he had a strong showing in camp and in the exhibition games and should be proud of his effort.
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