Oilers 2020 First Round Pick F Dylan Holloway Invited to Team Canada WJHC Selection Camp

Breaking news from the Edmonton Oilers’ official Twitter account:

A couple of thoughts:

• First of all, good. It would be of concern if the Oilers picked someone who wasn’t among the top 46 WJHC-eligible players in the country at 14th overall. Certainly this invitation doesn’t guarantee he’ll make the team, but you’d have to be a bit disappointed if Holloway was on the outside looking in for camp.
• Secondly, camp starts mid-November, while the tournament proper is scheduled to begin on December 26th. That’s a looooooooooooong camp. But it also makes sense. As of right now, the only CHL league playing is the QMJHL, the WHL is aiming for January, and news broke yesterday that the OHL, too, isn’t planning to start until after the World Juniors end. A long camp makes sense because, for a lot of these players, they’ll be months removed from their most recent competitive action. It will also provide players — like Holloway, who play out of country — time to quarantine as per federal regulations.
• As for Holloway, the latest news I’ve seen is that he and his Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA Big Ten) will begin their season in mid-November too, so it remains to be seen whether he’ll actually suit up for any before heading to camp.