Like the Canadians, who gathered to start their month-long selection camp earlier this week, the Russian U20 team will also begin preparations soon for the upcoming World Junior Championship. Today, the expanded selection camp roster was announced, though the coaching staff has only a handful of players to cut.
The full roster is as follows:
G Yaroslav Askarov (NSH)
G Artur Akhtyamov (TOR)
G Vsevolod Skotnikov (undrafted)
D Roman Bychkov (BOS)
D Alexander Kirpichnikov (undrafted)
D Kirill Kirsanov (2021 draft eligible)
D Yegor Shekhovtsov (undrafted)
D Yan Kuznetsov (CGY)
D Shakir Mukhamadullin (NJD)
D Ivan Rogov (undrafted)
D Nikita Sedov (undrafted)
D Daniil Chayka (2021 draft eligible)
D Semyon Chistyakov (NSH)
F Mikhail Abramov (TOR)
F Rodion Amirov (TOR)
F Danil Bashkirov (undrafted)
F Yegor Afanasyev (NSH)
F Takhir Mingachev (undrafted)
F Zakhar Bardakov (undrafted)
F Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD)
F Yegor Chinakhov (CBJ)
F Maxim Groshev (TBL)
F Vasily Podkolzin (VAN)
F Yegor Spiridonov (SJS)
F Marat Khusnutdinov (MIN)
F Vasily Ponomarev (CAR)
F Ilya Safonov (undrafted)
F Vladislav Firstov (MIN)
While NHL fans will be watching their favorite team’s prospects closely, attention should also be given to Chayka, who is expected to go in the first round of the 2021 draft. The 18-year-old defenseman already stands 6’3″ and was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. Chayka helped the Russian squad take home gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky and seems to win everywhere he goes.
The WJC will begin at the end of December in Edmonton, Alberta.