Hockey Canada announced their final roster for the 2012 World U20 Hockey Championships this morning and all four Niagara IceDogs that attended selection camp cracked the final roster.  Dougie Hamilton, Freddie Hamilton, Ryan Strome and Mark Visentin selection means that IceDogs make up a remarkable 18% of Team Canada's entire 22 man roster.  It also marks only the fourth time one team has ever had four players crack the Canadian roster in the same year.

In addition to having the most players on Team Canada, the IceDogs selected make for some of the most compelling stories in camp.

One of the main focuses throughout the summer camp and selection camp has been the possibility of the Hamilton brothers both making the team.  Now with their selection to the final roster, the Hamiltons have become the first brothers to make Team Canada since 1982 when the Moller brothers, Mike and Randy, wore the maple leaf.  Ironically the Mollers were also a forward and defenceman brother combination with Mike playing up front and Randy patrolling the blue line.

In addition to the Hamiltons being one of the big stories, Visentin is another one of the biggest stories, returning after being the starting goaltender for the medal round on last year's silver medal team.  As one of four returning players from last year's squad Visentin will surely be counted on for leadership throughout the tournament and will look to do one better on his silver medal from last year.

Last, but not least, Strome's story should be an interesting one as well.  With so much focus having been put on the players that were not available for Canada because they are in the NHL, and how that is going to hurt the team offensively, Strome will be looking to show Canada the offensive abilities that helped make him the fifth overall pick in NHL draft this past June.  Strome will be counted on to help bring high end skill to the forward crew along with players like fellow top ten picks Mark Scheifiele and Jonathan Huberdeau.

Combine all these stories and it is obvious that the IceDogs will be in the spotlight a great deal this holiday season.  So although the World Junior Hockey Championships is always an exciting time of the year for hockey fans throughout the country, IceDogs fans will have just a little more to cheer about come Boxing Day!