Early this afternoon, Hockey Canada announced its 30-man roster for the nation’s forthcoming selection camp in Oakville, Ontario.

At that camp, that field of 26 skaters and four goaltenders will be winnowed down to 20 skaters and three goaltenders.

Nate Danielson, whom the Detroit Red Wings selected ninth overall at the 2023 NHL Draft, was among the 30 players chosen for that camp roster, and he will be a near certainty to make the actual roster when the time comes.

The Canadian camp will run between December 10th and 13th, while the actual World Junior (which is set to be held in Gothenburg) will be held between December 26th and January 5th.

Danielson made a strong impression at Red Wings training camp to open the season, before rejoining the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings.

It was never realistic for Danielson to earn an NHL roster spot in the immediate aftermath of being drafted, but he nonetheless impressed with his maturity and 200-foot reliability.

Before Danielson was returned to Brandon, Derek Lalonde praised his poise on the puck, saying “You can see him not rushing plays.  He’ll hold on to a puck, protect it, let a play develop.

That stuff usually takes time, takes some development, some video, but he’s got a good knack for it.”