Wright loaned to Canada ahead of world junior selection camp

Shane Wright is being loaned to Canada ahead of its national junior team selection camp, the Seattle Kraken announced Thursday.

The rookie forward wasn't among the 29 players Hockey Canada chose Monday for the camp, which will run from Friday through next Monday. Canada's hockey brass selected the forward for the original 2022 world juniors, but the tournament was canceled after two games due to COVID-19. Wright didn't take part in the rescheduled August event.

Wright has already had a roller-coaster 2022-23 season. Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol barely played him before making him a healthy scratch for five straight games, allowing Seattle to send the 18-year-old to the AHL for a conditioning loan on Nov. 20.

The former OHL star buried four goals in five contests with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and the Kraken recalled him Tuesday for a game against the Montreal Canadiens, who passed on him with the first overall pick in July's draft, triggering his fall to Seattle at No. 4. Wright scored his first NHL goal in the loss to Montreal.

The Canadian junior squad will be further bolstered by the addition of Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke, a defenseman who the NHL club chose eighth overall in 2021. The Kings loaned him to the national junior team earlier Wednesday.

Clarke collected two assists in nine games with Los Angeles and one tally and one helper in five contests with the AHL's Ontario Reign this season. He'll turn 20 in February.

The world junior tournament begins Dec. 26 in Halifax and Moncton.

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