The Kootenay Ice’s top scoring forward has been cut by Canada’s World Junior Championship (WJC) team.

Max Reinhart was among the first seven players released from Canada’s WJC tryout camp this morning (Dec. 13). He was released along with six other blue chip players.

Also cut were: Red Deer Rebels defenseman Mathew Dumba, who some believe could be the first over selection in the 2012 NHL draft,  Brenden Kichton of the Spokane Chiefs, forward Mark McNeill of the Prince Albert Raiders, Brandon Wheat Kings forward Michael Ferland, Saint John Sea Dogs forward Zack Phillips and Rimouski blueliner Jerome Gauthier-Leduc.

As is tradition, the cut players received the news first thing this morning, with the dreaded knock on the hotel room door.

Reinhart told TSN he is “a little disappointed, but it’s not the end of the world. It’s a tough team to make and I wasn’t the player they were looking for. I think I played pretty well. I don’t think there’s much I could’ve done differently.”

Canada’s purposeful loss is the Ice’s gain, as they will march through the next three weeks of the Western Hockey League schedule with their top forward in the lineup.

There is also an outside chance Reinhart could get a call back in case of emergency, as has happened in the past, as the fact that he is a bit older than most of the other cuts, thus far, gives him that edge.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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