Top Capitals prospects invited to Canada's World Juniors camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Capitals prospects Hendrix Lapierre and Vincent Iorio are among the invitees to Team Canada's World Juniors selection camp as announced on Wednesday. The camp will take place on Dec. 9-13 in preparation for the prestigious under-20 tournament that will run Dec. 26-Jan. 5.
Lapierre began the season with the Capitals as injuries allowed for room on the roster. He scored in his NHL debut against the New York Rangers before ultimately being sent back to his junior team, Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL, after six games with Washington.
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The invite is another positive step forward for Lapierre who continues to re-establish himself as a top hockey prospect. Lapierre's upward trajectory was derailed by injuries that limited him to just 19 games in the 2019-20 season. Suddenly, a projected high first-round prospect began falling down the draft until the Caps traded up to select him at No. 22 overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Though playing time since the draft has been limited due to COVID-19, injuries have not been a factor for Lapierre since the draft. In 2021, he recorded 31 points in 21 games in the QMJHL's shortened season and has another seven points in six games so far this year.
Iorio is a second-round pick for Washington from the 2021 draft this past summer. After a strong training camp, he was sent back to his junior team in the WHL, the Brandon Wheat Kings. In 17 games this season, he has two goals and eight assists.
Lapierre is among 21 forwards and Iorio is one of 11 defensemen invited to camp for a Canada team that will look to win gold after losing in the gold-medal final last year to the United States.
