Canada’s defence of its world-junior gold medal has started to take shape.

Hockey Canada announced on Tuesday the summer development camp roster of 40 players for the 2016 world junior team, which will be coached by Dave Lowry.

The camp will be in Calgary during the first week of August and will include exhibition games against Russia (Aug. 3 and Aug. 5) and against the Czech Republic (Aug. 4 and Aug. 6).

Canada will practise on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2.

Connor McDavid is eligible for the team but was not invited to camp. McDavid will be playing for the Edmonton Oilers next season.

Among the invitees are five players — defencemen Joe Hicketts and forwards Brayden Point, Jake Virtanen, Lawson Crouse and Robby Fabbri — who helped Canada win gold at the 2015 world junior in Toronto and Montreal.

Canada opens the 2016 world junior, which will be held in Helsinki, on Dec. 26 against the United States. The final roster will include 22 players.

The development camp roster (with team and NHL rights):

GOALIES (3)

Mackenzie Blackwood, Barrie (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Mason McDonald, Charlottetown (QMJHL), Calgary; Samuel Montembeault, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL), 2015 draft eligible

DEFENCEMEN (13)

Alexandre Carrier, Gatineau (QMJHL), 2015 draft eligible; Travis Dermott, Erie (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Vince Dunn, Niagara (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Haydn Fleury, Red Deer (WHL), Carolina; Joe Hicketts, Victoria (WHL), Detroit; Brandon Hickey, Boston University (HE), Calgary; Noah Juulsen, Everett (WHL), 2015 draft eligible; Olivier Leblanc, Cape Breton (QMJHL), Columbus; Roland McKeown, Kingston (OHL), Carolina; Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke (QMJHL), 2015 draft eligible; Travis Sanheim, Calgary (WHL), Philadelphia; Mitchell Vande Sompel, Oshawa (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Jake Walman, Providence College (HE), St. Louis

FORWARDS (24)

Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Val-d’Or (QMJHL), Philadelphia; Mathew Barzal, Seattle (WHL), 2015 draft eligible; Anthony Beauvillier, Shawinigan (QMJHL), 2015 draft eligible; Conner Bleackley, Red Deer (WHL), Colorado; Rourke Chartier, Kelowna (WHL), San Jose; Lawson Crouse, Kingston (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Michael Dal Colle, Oshawa (OHL), New York Islanders; Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current (WHL), 2015 draft eligible; Robby Fabbri, Guelph (OHL), St. Louis; Julien Gauthier, Val-d’Or (QMJHL), 2016 draft eligible; Jayce Hawryluk, Brandon (WHL), Florida; Joshua Ho-Sang, Niagara (OHL), New York Islanders; Travis Konecny, Ottawa (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Mitchell Marner, London (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Jared McCann, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL), Vancouver; Nick Merkley, Kelowna (WHL), 2015 draft eligible; Brendan Perlini, Niagara (OHL), Arizona; Brayden Point, Moose Jaw (WHL), Tampa Bay; John Quenneville, Brandon (WHL), New Jersey; Dylan Sadowy, Saginaw (OHL), San Jose; Mitchell Stephens, Saginaw (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Dylan Strome, Erie (OHL), 2015 draft eligible; Jake Virtanen, Calgary (WHL), Vancouver; Spencer Watson, Kingston (OHL), Los Angeles