Team Canada Cuts Michael DiPietro From World Junior Hockey Championships Roster

Another day, another Canucks prospect cut from Team Canada’s World Junior Hockey Championship roster. Yesterday it was Kole Lind. Today it’s Windsor Spitfires goaltender and Canucks 2017 third-round draft pick goaltender Michael DiPietro who got the news.

The move comes as something of a surprise to Canucks fans who’d watched the situation from afar. Speculation among many this season was that DiPietro was something of a shoo-in for Team Canada and that he might even challenge the incumbent, Carter Hart, for the starting job.

That always seemed a touch optimistic, though DiPietro had a legitimate shot to at least play the backup’s role. The .917 save percentage that DiPietro is sporting in the OHL is sterling, certainly, but it pales in comparison to the numbers that Hart (.961 save percentage in the WHL) and Colton Point (.938 save percentage in the NCAA) have posted thus far.

Another factor that could have worked against DiPietro in his battle for the backup role in this tournament is Point’s NCAA wrinkle. If Team Canada decided to take DiPietro and either he or Hart were to go down with injury, they couldn’t recall Point due to the NCAA’s rules (h/t to @CanucksInSeven on Twitter for pointing that out).

It’s disappointing for Canucks fans who wanted to get another glimpse at DiPietro on the big stage, and doubly so for DiPietro who was in tears upon receiving the news.

The good news is that DiPietro will be available to Team Canada for the tournament next season, and should be the starting goaltender. I’m willing to bet he’ll excel in that role, too.