Five former Canadian Sport School Hockey League student athletes have won the gold medal with Team Canada at the 2020 World Junior Championship.
Jacob Bernard-Docker, Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Joel Hofer and Ty Smith were all part of the Canadian team that took a 4-3 victory over Russia in the gold medal game on Sunday.
Hofer made 29 saves in the final game, while Cozens opened the scoring for Canada midway through the second period. Hofer was named the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper, as well as named to the Media All-Star Team.
The five CSSHL alums join Curtis Lazar (2015), Joe Hicketts (2015) and Jake Bean (2018) as former CSSHL student athletes to win gold at the World Juniors.
Bernard-Docker, 19, attended the Edge School during the 2015-16 season. The Canmore, AB product is currently attending and playing NCAA hockey at the University of North Dakota, where he has registered 14 points (3-11-14) in 17 games this season. Bernard-Docker was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round, 26th overall, at the 2018 NHL Draft.
Byram, 18, attended the Yale Hockey Academy during the 2016-17 season, where he was named the 2017 CSSHL Midget Prep Division Top Defenceman. The Cranbrook, BC product is currently playing for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. In 27 games this season, he has accumulated 19 points (3-16-19). Byram was selected in the first round, fourth overall, by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2019 NHL Draft.
Cozens, 18, attended the Yale Hockey Academy during the 2016-17 season and the Delta Hockey Academy during the 2015-16 season. The Whitehorse, YT product is currently playing for the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes, where he has netted 46 points (20-26-46) in 30 games this season. Cozens was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, seventh overall, at the 2019 NHL Draft.
Hofer, 19, attended the Pursuit of Excellence during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The Winnipeg, MB product was named the 2016 CSSHL Midget Varsity Division Top Goaltender. Hofer is currently playing for the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, where in 27 games this season, he has posted a 1.81 goals-against average and a .937 save-percentage. Hofer was selected in the fourth round, 107th overall, by the St. Louis Blues at the 2018 NHL Draft.
Smith, 19, attended the Delta Hockey Academy during the 2014-15 season, where he was named the 2015 CSSHL Bantam Prep Division Most Valuable Player. The Lloydminster, AB product has registered 17 points (4-13-17) in 21 games with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs this season. Smith was selected in the first round, 17th overall, by the New Jersey Devils at the 2018 NHL Draft.