A season of firsts is set to hit the world stage for an Okotoks Oilers alumnus.
Just weeks removed from making his National Hockey League debut, Ottawa Senators defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker was named to Team Canada’s 25-player roster at the 2021 IIHF World Hockey Championships in Riga, Latvia.
“Hockey Canada is excited to announce the 25 players that have been selected to wear the Maple Leaf at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. We know the players and staff will represent Canada with pride as they compete for a gold medal in Latvia,” said Team Canada’s general manager Roberto Luongo. “Our roster combines veteran leadership with a lot of young talent, and we are excited for a number of players who have the opportunity to represent their country for the first time.”
Bernard-Docker, an Okotoks Jr. A Oiler from 2016-18 and the AJHL’s Top Defenceman in his second season with the Green and Gold, got his first taste of NHL action on April 13.
Ottawa’s first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Bernard-Docker suited up in five games for the Senators, who were outside of the North Division playoff picture, down the stretch on the up-and-coming Eastern Conference squad.
The Canmore defenceman is no stranger to the maple leaf.
The steady right shot blueliner won gold at the 2019-20 World Junior Hockey Championships and in 2017, while a member of the Oilers, and helped Canada West to the 2017 World Junior A Challenge title.
Other Albertans on Team Canada include Calgary Flames speedster Dillon Dube, from Cochrane, Calgarian Jaret Anderson-Dolan of the Los Angeles Kings and, Morinville’s Brandon Hagel of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The tournament runs May 21 to June 6 in Latvia’s capital city.
Canada opens the preliminary round against the host nation and will also face-off against Finland, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Norway and the United States before the playoff round gets underway.
The games will be broadcast on TSN.
For more information go to okotoksoilers.ca
