Mario Ferraro named to preliminary World Juniors Championship roster

The San Jose Sharks’ 2017 second-round draft pick, defenseman Mario Ferraro, has been named to the preliminary roster for Team Canada at the 2018 World Juniors Championship. If selected, it’d be the first time Ferraro has competed as part of Team Canada. Seven of the players selected have previously competed with Team Canada, winning a silver medal at the 2017 World Juniors.

The 18-year-old native of King City, Ontario is playing his first year with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he has six points (three goals, three assists) in 15 games. Ferraro had previously played with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL, posting 41 points (eight goals, 33 assists) in 60 games. His UMass teammate, defenseman Cale Makar, has also been named to the preliminary Team Canada roster.

Team Canada will hold a selection camp, featuring exhibition games prior to the tournament, from December 12th through the 15th. The final 22-man roster will likely be announced on December 16th.

Ferraro is the second 2017 Sharks draft pick to be named to a preliminary roster for World Juniors, after Josh Norris was named to Team USA yesterday.

View the entire Team Canada preliminary roster here.