Mark Stone celebrates a goal during Canada's 3-1 pre-tournament win over Finland in Calgary.

The road to a eleventh straight World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game will be a tough one for Team Canada as they host the World over the next ten days.

Canada is coming off back-to-back heartbreaking losses after falling in overtime to the United States in Saskatoon in 2010 and collapsing against Russia in the final last time around in Buffalo and will be looking to rebound back on home ice in Edmonton and Calgary.

Four Back For More

There are four players back from that devastating loss to the Russians which saw Team Canada give up five straight goals in the third period to lose 5-3.

Moose Jaw Warrior forward Quinton Howden, captain Jaden Schwartz from Wilcox, Sask., Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brett Connolly and goalie Mark Visentin.

Those four players are expected to play big roles in Canada returning to the top of the podium in 2012, with Schwartz, Howden and Connolly all wearing letters in leadership roles.

Questions In Net

Coming into this week’s three-game tune-up, Canada’s situation in goal seemed to be an afterthought with returnee Visentin expected to get the call when Canada hits the ice on Boxing Day against Finland, but that changed on Friday night.

Visentin allowed three goals in a two-minute span during a 5-3 loss to Sweden in the Canadians final warm-up game.  Backup Scott Wedgewood came in, as was already planned, in the second period and was solid as Canada attempted a comeback.

That rises questions for the Canadians that they weren’t expecting as Wedgewood was good, but not really tested in his 7-1 win over Switzerland in their pre-tournament game on Thursday.

Head coach Don Hay hadn’t hinted by Saturday night about who would be in goal for Canada on Monday.

No Superstar? No Problem

One thing Canada has gotten used to having at the World Juniors is that superstar goal scorer, that’s not the case in 2012 as they’re expected to do things more by committee this time.

Canada features the leading scorers from Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League with Brandon’s Mark Stone and Barrie’sTanner Pearson.  There’s also two NHLers on the roster with Tampa sending back Brett Connolly and Anaheim returning Devante Smith-Pelly.

Mark Scheifele, who opened the season with the Winnipeg Jets and Florida’s 2011 third overall pick Jonathan Huberdeau are expected to lead the attack long with Smith-Pelly on the top line.

Drive Starts Boxing Day

Canada will kick-off the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship pool play against Finland on Boxing Day from Rexall Place in Edmonton.  Puck drops that day at 2:30pm with the pre-game show hitting the air on Country 100 at 2pm.

Next up after that for Canada is Czech Republic on Wednesday night at 7pm, that will be the lone round robin game for Team Canada not appear on Country 100.  Canada then takes on Denmark on Thursday, before wrapping up against the Americans on New Year’s Eve.

The gold medal game is set for Thursday, January 5th in Calgary at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Click here for the full tournament schedule.