OTTAWA - Almost half of the Canadian junior hockey team's roster is made up of players under the age of 18.
The 2009 world junior hockey championship, hosted by Ottawa starting Dec. 26, is considered a showcase of the world's best 19-year-old hockey players.
But there are five 17-year-olds and 13 players aged 18 on the 38-player roster announced Wednesday by Hockey Canada.
Those youngsters have to outplay the 19-year-olds for jobs on the team at selection camp Dec. 11-15 in Ottawa.
Of the four goaltenders, 14 defencemen and 20 forwards invited, head coach Pat Quinn is expected to choose two goalies, seven defenceman and 13 forwards to open defence of the gold medal Dec. 26 against the Czech Republic.
Canada has won the gold medal at the world junior championship four consecutive years.
