TORONTO, Ontario -- An eager group of 25 players broke camp Sunday and got ready to head overseas for final preparations for the world junior hockey championship. Brandon Weeden Jersey Retro . But only 22 will still be there when the tournament opens Dec. 26 in Malmo, Sweden. Coach Brent Sutter said the final cuts -- one defenceman and two forwards -- will be decided on many factors, including injuries. "Theyre not easy decisions, but the reality is weve got a couple-or-three guys banged up and were not exactly sure," said Sutter. "Hopefully they can skate when we get over there. "Whether theyll be ready for the first exhibition game, were not sure. All these guys deserve to be able to push to get on the team and theyre going to have a few more days to do so." The team will play three pre-tournament games -- Friday against Finland, Sunday against Sweden and the following day against Switzerland. Sutter hopes to make the cuts after the first exhibition game so he can use the full squad for the last two. The key question is high-scoring winger Jonathan Drouin, who is recovering from a concussion but who expects to resume skating when the team arrives in Sweden on Monday. Another is rushing defenceman Josh Morrissey, who has been nagged by an undisclosed injury for a month but who expects to be able to practise this week. "Theres a long time to Boxing Day and I guess it was nice to have a couple of days here to rest and work with the great staff at Hockey Canada in dealing with that problem," the Prince Albert Raiders rearguard and Winnipeg Jets prospect said. "I think in the next couple of days Ill be ready to go and back to 100 per cent." It may also be a nervy time for three so-called "underage" players in camp, 16-year-old Connor McDavid and the players listed by some as the top two prospects for the 2014 NHL draft -- forward Sam Reinhart and big defenceman Aaron Ekblad. The Canadian team rarely keeps more than one underager, but if there is ever to be three on one team it would be these ones. McDavid, a remarkable playmaker and scorer, is considered a shoo-in to go first overall in the 2015 draft. He and Ekblad are among only three players (along with John Tavares) ever to be granted "exceptional" status to enter the OHL at 15, a year earlier than other players. Reinhart is a scoring centre for the Kootenay Ice who has been captain of Canadian teams at age-group tournaments. And with the world juniors slated for Toronto and Montreal next year, one might think management will want to give them a taste of the tournament in Sweden to help them get ready to shine on home ice. There are 11 players in camp eligible to return for the Toronto-Montreal event. Sutter has said players will make the team on merit regardless of their age, although he also values leadership and experience. He also wants a big team. "Were certainly going to be a younger team, but it doesnt bother me at all because theyre good players," the 51-year-old coach said. "Theyre the best. "But you need to have experience with that, too. Its nice to have those guys who have been in the tournament, understand it, know how it works -- everything thats involved in a tournament of this magnitude." He used all three youngsters liberally in a 3-0 victory over a group of local university players on Saturday. McDavid scored Canadas first goal. "Im not going to think about anything other than making this team," the Erie Otters star said. "I still have a long way to go." Sutter has had McDavid and Reinhart on the same line, as he did during a summer development camp, to build chemistry between them. "Hes an easy player to play with, so smart out there," Reinhart said of McDavid. "He creates so much offensively, hes smart defensively. He makes room for his linemates. Its definitely nice playing with him." Because Reinhart turned 18 in November, he can wear a normal visor instead of the full face cage McDavid and Ekblad are required under international rules to use. The six-foot-four Ekblad will be going to his ancestral homeland. His great-grandfather was Swedish. He likes that the coaching staff doesnt seem to hold his age, 17, against him. "But I still have to prove myself," the Barrie Colt rearguard said. "So does Connor and every guy at this camp. "Everyone has to prove they have some attribute that will help Team Canada win. Thats all that matters. Theyre giving everyone a fair chance. Theres a reason everyone is here." There remains a slim chance the team will get help from the NHL, although Sutter does not expect the Calgary Flames to free up centre Sean Monahan. The Toronto Maple Leafs have until the Dec. 19 NHL roster freeze to decide whether to loan defenceman Morgan Rielly. Either player, both under 20 and therefore eligible for the tournament, would be likely snapped up eagerly by the Canadian squad, even if it means another cut or two from the group in Sweden. "Im not putting any money on the table that were going to get anybody else," said Sutter. Wholesale Cheap Jerseys . Riethers apparent stamp on Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj during Saturdays Premier League match at Craven Cottage was missed by the match officials. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the incident and all agreed that it was a sending-off offence. Cheap Jerseys 2020 . Thornton emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends against the run in 2013. The former undrafted free agent from Division II Southern Arkansas led Philadelphias linemen with 78 tackles and had one sack.PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle Kendrick and his offence were in sync for the first time in a while. Ryan Howard had five RBIs and Kendrick pitched sharply into the seventh inning to snap his 10-game losing streak as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 9-0 Monday. A day after Dodgers right-hander Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter against the Phillies, leadoff man Ben Revere started with a single for the first of Philadelphias 12 hits. Kendrick (1-5) allowed six hits over 6 2-3 innings to earn his first win since last Aug. 6, a span of 16 winless starts. His best performance since that skid came against the top offence in the majors. The Rockies are first in runs (262) and batting average (.291), but have been shut out in two straight games. Kendrick had several strong starts during his losing streak but didnt get much run support. He also had some poor outings when the offence produced. "It was tough. It was a grind," Kendrick said. "I tried to keep games close, pitch deep and give us a chance. Some of those wins and losses are out of your control." Jhoulys Chacin (0-4) gave up four runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. He has lost five straight decisions dating to last season. "I felt fine and my pitches were moving pretty good," Chacin said. Mike Adams relieved Kendrick and fanned Troy Tulowitzki with two on to end the seventh in a 4-0 game. Antonio Bastardo and Justin De Fratus finished off the seven-hitter. The key for Kendrick was getting through the first inning scoreless. He didnt allow a run in the first for the first time in five starts after giving up nine total runs in the opening frame in his previous four outings. "I didnt have my best command, but I made pitches when I needed to," Kendrick said. "No runs is all that matters." Chase Utley got the Phillies going in the fourth by reaching on an infield single with two outs. He advanced to secondd on a wild pitch and scored when Howard lined a single to right, snapping Philadelphias 15-inning scoreless streak. China Cheap Jerseys. Howard was 0 for 17 before the hit. "We got good pitches to hit and we jumped out early," Howard said. "Our approach was similar. Sometimes when a guy is on, hes on. You can have a bad day yesterday, but next day is a fresh start." The Phillies hustled out a run in the fifth. Domonic Brown walked and sprinted to third on Carlos Ruizs single to left. Two outs later, Revere dove headfirst into first base to beat out an infield single and give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Kendrick escaped a two-out jam in the sixth, retiring Josh Rutledge on a foul pop to leave runners at second and third. Howard connected in the sixth, sending a drive into the right-centre stands for his eighth homer and a 4-0 lead. Utley hit an RBI double in the seventh and Howard followed with a two-run single. Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. capped the scoring outburst with a two-run shot. "It was a good bounce-back game for us," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "It was good to see Kendrick was solid against a good lineup." NOTES: Phillies lefty Cliff Lee was not cleared to start throwing and will be re-evaluated in three days. Lee has an elbow strain and was placed on the disabled list last week. "Its definitely better, but its still there," Lee said. "No sense in rushing it." ... Chacin didnt have a wild pitch this season before throwing three in the fourth inning. ... Charlie Culberson made his third straight start for injured Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado. ... Colorado was shut out for the third time this season. ... Matt Beech was the last Phillies pitcher to lose 11 straight decisions. His streak went from Aug. 13, 1996, to Aug. 2, 1997. ... LHP Jorge De La Rosa (5-3) goes for the Rockies against LHP Cole Hamels (1-2, 4.30 ERA) on Tuesday night. ' ' '
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