Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said rookie center Michael Misa is not missing the start of Canada’s training camp for the upcoming World Junior Championship because of an injury.
Hockey Canada announced Friday that Misa would miss the start of the National Junior Team’s camp and that his status was “evaluated day-to-day,” adding that the 18-year-old was expected to join the team at some point during training camp, which runs until Dec. 22.Canada’s first game at the World Junior Championship, which is being held in Minnesota, is Dec. 26.
Warsofsky said the Sharks “just kept (Misa) back for a couple of days for his (conditioning loan). He’ll be fine.”
Warsofsky said Misa would join the Canadian team’s camp but could not say when.
Friday morning, Misa was on the ice with Joe Thornton at the Sharks’ practice facility, going through a variety of drills with the newly enshrined Hockey Hall of Famer, who now works as one of the organization’s development coaches.
Misa, 18, began a conditioning assignment with the San Jose Barracuda last week and played two games with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate on Dec. 5 and 6 against the Tucson Roadrunners, collecting one assist. He did not play in San Jose’s most recent game on Wednesday against the San Diego Gulls.
Misa had just returned from a right ankle injury he sustained during a Sharks morning skate on Nov. 5 in Seattle. He has a goal and two assists in seven games with the Sharks this season.
Misa and fellow Sharks prospect Josh Ravensbergen, 19, were among 27 players named to the Canadian team’s training camp roster on Monday. Misa was drafted second overall by the Sharks in July, and Ravensbergen, a goalie with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League, was taken at No. 30.
Misa was the Canadian Hockey League’s leading scorer last season with 134 points in 65 regular-season games with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. He was one of 15 forwards initially invited to the camp and is expected to play a significant role on the Canadian team as it seeks its first World Juniors gold medal since 2023.
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