Swift Current Broncos' Captain Cody Eakin will finally get a chance to wear the Maple Leaf at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

 

Hockey Canada has made its final nine cuts this morning, and the 22-man final roster for the championships has the 19-year-old forward on it. Eakin is the first Bronco to crack the Team Canada roster since Ian White in 2003.

 

This is the cherry on top of an amazing week for Eakin, who scored both the CHL and WHL Player of the Week awards after his nine-point effort last week.

 

Other WHLers on the roster include forwards Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw), Brayden Schenn (Brandon), Carter Ashton (Tri City), Brett Connolly (Prince George), Curtis Hamilton (Saskatoon) and Ryan Johansen (Portland). On defence, Jared Cowen (Spokane) returns along with Tyson Barrie (Kelowna).

 

The nine cuts made today include highly-touted prospect and Red Deer Rebel forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, fellow forwards Riley Sheahen, Michael Bournival and Brandon Pirri, defencemen Ryan Murphy, Ryan Murray and Mark Pysyk and goaltenders JP Anderson and Calvin Pickard.

 

Cuts made yesterday were forwards Brad Ross, Brendan Gallagher, Linden Vey, Reilly Smith, Ryan Howse, Garrett Wilson and Joey Hishon and blueliners Brayden McNabb and Jesse Blacker.

 

The World Juniors start on Boxing Day with Team Canada taking on Russia, and every Canada game will be on the Eagle 94.1.