Shane Wright was loaned by the Seattle Kraken to Canada’s national junior team for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship on Thursday.
Wright, the no. 4 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, has two points (one goal, one assist) in eight games.
The forward scored his first NHL goal Tuesday, one day after being recalled from a conditioning stint with Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League. Wright scored four goals in five AHL games.
“It’s a great opportunity for him,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. “If you look at the way his first couple of months have gone, he’s continued to grow. We were really excited about the game that he played the other night. He played well. It was really nice to see him get his first goal. Now this is just another great opportunity for a young player to play a key role for Team Canada.
“To have an opportunity to go and compete for a gold medal for Team Canada is a pretty special opportunity for a young man. So on a lot of different levels, this will be a great opportunity for growth and a great opportunity just in terms of experience for him.”
Wright played for Canada when the 2022 WJC was initially held in December 2021, and had one assist in two games before the tournament was canceled in December. 29 because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He did not play when the tournament was held in August.
Canada’s final selection camp for the 2023 WJC begins Wednesday at Avenir Center in Moncton, New Brunswick. Wright is one of 32 players taking part. Canada will announce its tournament roster Dec. 12.
The 2023 WJC will be held Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Moncton and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada is the defending champion.
Also taking part in the camp will be the Arizona Coyotes forward Dylan Guenther and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke.
Guenther was loaned by the Coyotes on Thursday. Selected by Arizona with the No. 9 pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, he has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 21 games.
Clarke was loaned to Canada for the tournament Wednesday. Selected by the Kings with the No. 8 pick in the 2021 Draft, he has two assists in nine games, but hasn’t played since Nov. 1. He also has two points (one goal, one assist) in five games with Ontario of the AHL.
Guenther had two assists during the 2022 WJC when it was played in December but did not play in the August tournament. Clarke has never played in the WJC.
NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti contributed to this report
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