For Pierre-Olivier Joseph, the quest to REPRESENT Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship – being hosted on Canadian ice beginning this December – is well underway as he received an official invite to wear the red-and-white at the Sport Chek World Junior Showcase in Kamloops, B.C., July 28-Aug. 4.

“The Sport Chek World Junior Showcase gives us an excellent opportunity to begin the evaluation process and for the staff to familiarize themselves with the players before the new season kicks off,” said Brad McEwen, head scout for Hockey Canada. “We also get to see the players in competition against the teams who will be returning to Vancouver and Victoria this December. It’s a unique opportunity, and we’re looking forward to making the most of it as we kick off our journey to the 2019 World Juniors later this month.”

Joseph, a first round NHL draft pick of the Arizona Coyotes, scored 13 goals and added 33 assists in 63 games for the Charlottetown Islanders. The 6’3” defenseman also added 12 points in 18 playoff games.

The eight-day Sport Chek World Junior Showcase features Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States, who will play 11 games at the Sandman Centre. Canada will dress two squads for games against a split Team USA on July 31, before combining again as Team Canada to play Finland on Aug. 2, Sweden on Aug. 3, and close the mini-tournament against the U.S. on Aug. 4.

Source: hockeycanada.ca