Team Canada

Just three games into the 2023 World Junior Championship, it's fair to say that this year's Team Canada could be one of the most exciting in years.

[move Ostapchuk up to the third line](https://www.tsn.ca/video/~2590382) alongside Colton Dach and Zach Dean, saying, “He plays just an honest, workmanlike game, a guy we can trust. On a team loaded with high-skill players, he’s the perfect fit to ensure that those players can succeed. When asked about how this team and his role differed from last year to this year, he responded, “I think I play somewhat the same role on this team, but I think it’s obviously a new wave of guys coming in. Still, Ostapchuk has largely been overlooked on the ice, especially as Bedard continues to become one of the greatest junior players Canada has ever seen. Of course, when he has the chance to score, he won’t waste the opportunity. Once in Edmonton, Ostapchuk quickly endeared himself to his team and coaching staff with his positive attitude and work ethic off the ice, and on it. We have a lot of skill on this team, and we did in the summer too, but this year we have a really really skilled team…I think our top six is pretty special.” In 21 games with Vancouver, he had 10 goals and 29 points, making him one of the most productive players in the WHL in 2022-23. In that series, Ostapchuk put up an unbelievable 16 points in six games, leading to a 4-2 series win for the Giants and a massive upset of the top-ranked team in the Western Conference. Yet, once it had to be rescheduled for the summer of 2022, his name popped up in discussions thanks to Dennis Williams, the head coach of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Everett Silvertips and assistant coach for the 2022 World Juniors. Together, the pair became Canada’s premier grinders, displaying some incredible chemistry that got [fans in Ottawa excited for the future](https://thehockeywriters.com/senators-greig-ostapchuk-wjc-success/). Just three games into the 2023 World Junior Championship, it’s fair to say that this year’s Team Canada could be one of the most exciting in years.