Hawryluk and Point nurse injuries at Canada’s junior selection camp

TORONTO – Jayce Hawryluk and Brayden Point took it easy on Thursday night at the first practice of Canada’s world junior selection camp.

Hawryluk, who is out with an upper-body injury, sat out the practice, while Point wore a bright yellow jersey and was not on any of head coach Dave Lowry’s lines.

“His status is if he had to play today, he could play today,” said Lowry of Point, one of three players returning from last year’s gold-medal-winning team. “But he’s nursing some wounds, and we want to make sure we do the right thing and get him ready to start the tournament.”

Point injured his shoulder on Nov. 17 while playing for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.

Hawryluk was at the MasterCard Centre on Thursday but Lowry was also cautious with the Brandon Wheat Kings forward.

“He’s fine,” said Lowry. “We just kept him off the ice today just to make sure he can be ready to compete for a spot.”