The Guelph Storm’s standout defenseman was not among the 34 invitees to Hockey Canada’s selection camp, where the final roster will be selected for the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship in Vancouver and Victoria.
The omission comes despite Merkley’s OHL-leading 1.28 assists per game this season, and as he leads all players at his position with 36 points — good for a share of the eighth-highest point total league-wide — through 25 games.
Still, that offensive prowess wasn’t enough to crack this list of 12 defenseman invited to tryout for the national junior team: Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes), Nicolas Beaudin (Drummondville Voltigeurs), Jacob Bernard-Docker (North Dakota), Evan Bouchard (London Knights), Josh Brook (Moose Jaw Warriors), Cameron Crotty (Boston University), Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan), Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Charlottetown Islanders), Jared McIsaac (Halifax Mooseheads), Ian Mitchell (Denver), Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack) and Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs).