With the World Junior Championship held in Canada approaching rapidly team selection camp rosters have started to emerge. Today saw the announcing of Finland and Sweden’s selection rosters which included two Dallas Stars prospects among them.
The Dallas Stars first round pick in 2014, Julius Honka, was announced to Finland’s roster. Honka is currently playing with the Texas Stars in the AHL and his participation in the WJC is still uncertain. With moves on the blueline in Dallas the defensive depth has become limited. (Edited) Another injury could see Honka, or someone else, being called up to Dallas and leave the Texas Stars blueline looking bare.
According to Finnish media, the Finnish GM, Jere Lehtinen, has been in contact with Jim Nill about the situation. According to this report it appears that the plan is for Honka to represent Finland at the World Junior Championship. If there is another injury on the blueline in Dallas however it is likely that Honka will not be allowed to go to play.
Aleksi Makela, a Dallas Stars seventh round pick back in 2013, has spent most of this season with Ilves in the Liiga was also selected. He has five points through 16 games so far this season in the Liiga. He was expected to be named to the squad and will fit in on either the second or third defensive pairings for the Finns. There will be further cuts to the Finnish squad but it is expected that Makela will make the final roster.
The entire Finnish roster can be found here.
Sweden also announced their 2015 WJC roster and it was expected that Dallas Stars prospect Niklas Hansson would be selected. However he was missed off their roster. Sweden has a lot of good defensemen and competition to represent them at the WJC was always going to be close.
The entire Swedish roster can be found here.
This means there are four Dallas Stars prospects who will be fighting for the right to suit up for their respective nations: Jason Dickinson, Remi Elie, Julius Honka and Aleksi Makela. It is possible that Matej Paulovic could be selected to the Slovakian WJC team as he is still eligible.