Two of the Buffalo Sabres' top prospects will be representing the organization at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship later this month in Edmonton, Alberta as forwards Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn have both made the 25-man roster for Team Canada.
Cozens is one of six players returning from the 2020 Canadian roster that won the gold medal over the Russians in last year's tournament in the Czech Republic. That gold medal victory gave Canada its 18th gold medal in tournament history.
The other six players from the 2020 team making their return to Canada roster includes forwards Quinton Byfield (Los Angeles Kings), Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals) and Dawson Mercer (New Jersey Devils), as well as defensemen Bowen Byram (Colorado Avalanche) and Jamie Drysdale (Anaheim Ducks).
The 19-year-old was excellent in the 2020 tournament for Canada, picking up two goals and seven assists for nine points in seven games. The seventh overall pick of the Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft served in a top-six role for the Canadians, playing down the middle and on the wing, playing on the power play and being a key net-front presence.
As for Quinn, the Sabres' first round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (eighth overall) earned his first ever roster spot with Team Canada at any level of international competition. He was able to beat out some tough competition at Canada's training camp in Red Deer, which included a total of 26 forwards fighting for 14 spots.
The Sabres drafted the 19-year-old out of the Ontario Hockey League back in October after putting up a 52-goal season with the Ottawa 67's, finishing second in the entire league for goals. His head coach in Ottawa, André Tourigny, is coaching the Canadians this year at the World Junior tournament in Edmonton.
Already in the team's first official practice of the tournament, the two Sabres prospects have been paired up with Chicago Blackhawks 2019 first round pick (third overall) Kirby Dach on Canada's top line.
Canada will open its pre-tournament play on Monday, Dec. 21 against Sweden. They will also play Russia on Wednesday, Dec. 23 before opening the 2021 World Juniors on Saturday, Dec. 26 against Germany.