DeBrusk invited to World Junior Camp

Jake DeBrusk's season to remember just keeps getting better.

The Swift Current Broncos forward led his team with 42 goals, shot up the NHL draft rankings, played in the CHL top prospects game and has now been invited to Team Canada's World Juniors summer evaluation camp.

"It's a great honour and it's very deserving," said Broncos Coach/GM Mark Lamb. "It wasn't too much of a surprise with the year that he's had and where he was rated in the draft coming up. He's a special player that has improved all the time."

"I'm just happy for Jake and it's great for our organization to have another guy go to it."

DeBrusk's invite comes after Dillon Heatherington attended both the 2013 and 2014 camps before winning gold with Canada at this year's tournament.

This would be DeBrusk's only shot at the U20 team as he gets set to start his 19-year-old season.

"He's got great offensive instincts," Lamb said. "He's very versatile. He can play all three forwards positions. I think he's the type of guy it doesn't matter where you put him in the lineup... he can contribute from different areas."

DeBrusk is now waiting for more big news this week as the 2015 NHL Draft is set for Friday and Saturday. The former seventh round WHL bantam draft selection has been consistently ranked as a potential first round NHL pick.

"I've talked to pretty much every team about both (DeBrusk and Glenn Gawdin)," Lamb said. "When you score 40 goals there's not a lot of people in his class."

If DeBrusk goes in the first round on Friday it will be the first time in franchise history a Broncos player was picked in the first round in back-to-back years. Dallas drafted Julius Honka 14th overall last June.

"When you go in the first round you're in elite company," Lamb said. "I think there's a very good chance of it happening but if it doesn't it doesn't matter. These kids get drafted and it's just another step in their career."

Gawdin is also expected to hear his name called this weekend. That would mean five Broncos were picked over the last two drafts.

DeBrusk isn't the only Bronco getting a call from Hockey Canada this week. 2014 first round bantam drat pick Dominic Schmiemann earned an invite to Canada's U17 evaluation camp this summer. He also isn't the only Bronco with draft buzz as sophomore defenceman Max Lajoie is listed as a potential first round NHL pick in the initial 2016 rankings from Future Considerations.

"On many nights last year he was our best defenceman," Lamb said. "He just played like a veteran all year... he knows what it's all about now and we're expecting big things from him also."

You can watch the first round of the NHL Draft live on Sportsnet on Friday. The rest of the draft is set for Saturday morning.