Buffalo Sabres prospects Matt Savoie and Scott Ratzlaff have earned spots on Team Canada’s 22-man roster for the 2024 World Junior Championship.
General manager Kevyn Adams recently said Canada showed interest in adding rookie winger Zach Benson, 18, to the roster, but as an NHL regular, the Sabres don’t seem interested in letting him go.
Savoie, 19, played his first NHL game Nov. 10 before the Sabres sent him back to junior. The forward has dominated since returning to the Western Hockey League’s Wenatchee Wild, scoring 11 goals and 24 points in 11 games.
He also spent time in the AHL this season, compiling two goals and five points with the Rochester Americans during a six-game conditioning assignment.
The Sabres drafted Savoie ninth overall in 2022.
Ratzlaff, 18, is one of three goalies on the roster Canada released Wednesday. He has registered an 8-10-1 record with a 3.39 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage in 20 games with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds this season.
The Sabres drafted Ratzlaff in the fifth round this year, 141st overall.
The tournament begins Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
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The Sabres on Wednesday sent winger Brett Murray back to the Amerks to activate winger Alex Tuch from injured reserve. Tuch returned from a hamstring injury for Buffalo’s road game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Murray played in Monday’s 5-2 home win over the Arizona Coyotes.
