Eurolanche

Four Avs named to Canada's WCH's roster

Hockey Canada announced on Tuesday afternoon that Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie and forwards Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon and Ryan O'Reilly had been named to the country's National Men's Team for the May 1-17 tournament in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Barrie, 23, is coming off a career season where he led all Colorado defensemen in points (53), goals (12-tied) and assists (41). He is the fourth Avs defenseman to record 50 points in a season, joining Sandis Ozolinsh (four times), Rob Blake (twice) and Ray Bourque. The Victoria, British Columbia native previously played for Team Canada at the 2011 World Junior Championship where he recorded three points (one goal and two assists) in seven tournament games.

Duchene, 24, shared the Avs team lead in 2014-15 with four game-winning goals while compiling 55 total points (21 goals and 34 assists) in 82 games. The center reached the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in his career while finishing second on the club in faceoff percentage (52.2 percent). A native of Haliburton, Ontario, Duchene won a gold medal as a member of Canada's 2014 Men's Olympic Team. This year's World Championship marks the fourth time he has represented his country at the tournament (2010, 2011 and 2013).

MacKinnon, 19, recorded 38 points (14 goals and 24 assists) in 64 games this season, missing the final 18 contests with a fractured foot. The second-year center had played in each of his first 146 games (153 including the playoffs) to begin his NHL career before the injury. MacKinnon was starting to heat up offensively before missing the last month of the season as he tallied nine points (five goals and four assists) in his final 10 contests, including becoming the youngest Avalanche player to ever record a hat trick (19 years, 174 days) on Feb. 22 versus Tampa Bay. A native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, MacKinnon registered a goal and three assists in eight games for Canada at last year's World Championship in Belarus. He was also a member of the nation's 2013 World Junior Championship squad.

O'Reilly, 24, finished this past season with 26 points in his last 27 games, bringing his total to 55 points (17 goals and 38 assists) in 82 contests. He led the club in faceoff percentage (53.4 percent) and ranked first among Colorado forwards in average ice time (19:43). The center recorded 98 takeaways, sharing the NHL lead with Ottawa's Mark Stone. It is the third time in O'Reilly's career that he has led or has shared the lead in the category (2011-12, 2013-14). The Clinton, Ontario native previously played for Canada at the 2012 and 2013 World Championships.

-- by Ron Knabenbauer for Colorado Avalanche --