Habs News: NHL, Montreal Canadiens, Sam Montembeault, Justin Barron, Joel Armia, Sean Farrell, Lane Hutson, Luke Tuch, Laval Rocket
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — The IIHF Men’s World Championship is set to begin on May 12th in Finland and Latvia with 16 countries battling to win the gold medal. Countries began announcing their rosters for the tournament that will last until May 28th.
Six players from the Canadiens organization have been confirmed to head oversees for the competition.
Sam Montembeault
Sam Montembeault will form a goaltending duo with Buffalo Sabres prospect Devon Levi for Canada. The 26-year old is looking forward to his first experience at the tournament.
“It will be a good experience and it will be the first time that I play for Team Canada. I had participated at the World Juniors but I was the third goalie and I didn’t have the chance to play, so going there now will be fun,” Montembeault said at the end-of-season media availability.
The Becancour, Quebec native played a career high 2,334 minutes for this season in 40 games. It was the most minutes he has played as a professional in a season and most in his career since 2015-16 when he was on the ice for 2,771 minutes for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL. He finished the season with 16-19-3 record, 3.49 goals against average, and .901 save percentage.
Monteambeault is ready for a heavier workload next season if asked by the coaching staff. “I’ve already played 50 games in the juniors. It’s definitely more demanding at the professional level as we play almost every night. This summer will be a really important one for me to improve physically and mentally. Next season, if my workload increases, I will be ready.”
#Habs goalie Samuel Montembeault was named to the Canada's Men's National Team for the Men's World Championship.
In 40 games this season, he had 16-19-3 record and .901 save percentage.
Here are some of his best saves of the season. #GoHabsGo📷 #Hockey #NHL pic.twitter.com/px22noycih
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) May 6, 2023
Justin Barron
Justin Barron received a call from Team Canada to suit up on defence. It will be his first experience at the World Championship but participated in seven games during the World Juniors in 2020-21. The 21-year old will be the youngest defenceman of the squad.
Barron began the season in Laval, where he received top defenceman minutes including time on the power play and the penalty kill units. At the time of his recall, Barron had seven goals and 16 points in 25 games and led AHL defencemen with five power play goals.
In the NHL, he dressed for 39 games and scored four goals and 11 assists while playing 16:18 on average. As the season progressed, Martin St. Louis deployed Barron in a top-four role and regularly on the power play and penalty kill units.
#Habs defenceman Justin Barron was named to the Canada's Men's National Team for the Men's World Championship.
In 39 games in MTL and 25 games in LAV this season, he scored a combined 11 goals and 20 assists.
Here are al 11 goals. #GoHabsGo #Hockey #NHL #GoRocket #AHL pic.twitter.com/TLsRzq6VBB
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) May 6, 2023
Joel Armia
Joel Armia will represent Finland for a second consecutive year at the tournament. During last year’s competition, the Canadiens forward collected eight points in 10 games.
The 29-year old dressed for 43 games with the Canadiens this season, missing significant amount of action three times during the season due to injuries. Armia finished the season with seven goals and 14 points, while averaging 14:57 of ice time. The forward had an important role on the team’s penalty kill units.
#Habs Joel Armia will dress for Finland in the World Hockey Championships that begins on May 12th.
In last year's tournament, he collected 8 pts in 10 games.
Here's a look at his 5 goals#GoHabsGo #Hockey #NHL pic.twitter.com/ShVUmYiDtq
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) May 7, 2023
Sean Farrell
Sean Farrell got invited to Team USA’s roster for a second consecutive year. During last year’s competition, the forward collected two goals and six assists in 10 games.
The 21-year old played 34 games for Harvard University this season, where he scored 20 times and 33 assists. At the end of his NCAA schedule, the 2020 fourth round draft pick signed a three-year entry level contract with the Canadiens.
Farrell dressed in six NHL games and recorded his first career goal as a pro in his second contest against the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre.
It will be Sean Farrell's second participation in the Men's World Championship.
In last year's tournament, he scored two and added four assists in 10 games for the US.
Here are both his goals#GoHabsGo #Hockey pic.twitter.com/RAUw5dNCpn
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) May 6, 2023
Lane Hutson
Lane Hutson got invited to join Team USA’s blue line. The 19-year old will be the youngest player of team’s roster. Hutson played for his country earlier in the year at the World Junior Championships and put four points on the board in seven games.
The Canadiens 2022 second round draft pick had an impressive season in the NCAA collecting 48 points in 39 games with Boston University.
Luke Tuch
Luke Tuch will join his teammate in Team USA’s effort to get on top the podium. It will be the first time that the forward represents his country since 2018-19 at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
In 40 games with Boston University this season, the 21-year old scored nine times and added 11 assists. Tuch was an alternate captain for his NCAA team.
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By Chris G., Senior Writer
Habs Hockey Report
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