Dale Hunter is using Mitch Marner at centre in London these days.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are grooming him to be a man in the middle, too.

It's his natural position -- but it's probably not where he'll line up for Canada on Boxing Day in Helsinki.

"My first thought is Mitch, to play in the world juniors this year, may have to be on right wing," Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada director of player personnel, said in a conference call to discuss the OHL's roster for next month's Canada-Russia Series stops in Owen Sound and Windsor. "Yet, watching him at centre in London and the success he has had, it gives us some tools and flexibility with his versatility to play centre or wing as we move on through the selection camp and exhibition games, and ultimately, the tournament."

Marner's history with Hockey Canada has been exclusively on the wall.

"Every time for them," the 18-year-old Knights star said.

He played on the right side at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and won Ivan Hlinka Under-18 gold on a dominant line with Erie's Dylan Strome, who was at centre, and Niagara's Graham Knott on the left flank.

Does it matter to Marner?

"Not really," the 5-foot-11, 164-pounder said. "At centre, you get the puck more and there are more opportunities to see the ice. If I play wing, I would guess I would be playing with (Strome)."

Marner finished second to the Otter in the OHL scoring race last spring and was picked one spot later in the NHL draft. But it's not Strome who will keep him from centre on the international stage.

"A lot will depend on where we're at with our NHL players," Jankowski said. "Robby Fabbri (the Guelph Storm grad now with the St. Louis Blues) is a centreman. We've got (Moose Jaw Warrior) Brayden Point carrying over from last year as a centreman. (Vancouver Canuck and Soo Greyhound) Jared McCann is a centreman, as well."

If Fabbri and McCann are allowed to suit up in Finland, Canada will have a logjam in the middle. At the world junior evaluation camp in Calgary this past summer, Marner played the wing and also manned the point on one power-play unit.

"It's good to learn all positions, especially up front," Dale Hunter, Marner's Knights boss, said. "Wherever you go, you can play different ways and any player wants to play with the best guys.

"It's good for Mitch to be versatile. He's learning (centre at the OHL level) and it's a process all the time.

"It's been good."

Hunter said Marner has won over 50 percent of his faceoffs. The third-year forward has five goals and 10 points in seven games with London.

"He's done really well so far," said Knights defenceman Victor Mete, also named to Team OHL for the Windsor game. "I feel like Mitch has all the tools to play centre. He has all the moves and good speed. Give him some more time, he'll be a really good centreman."

Marner is exactly the type of hybrid player Hockey Canada covets on the big ice overseas. The national program is moving towards constructing teams with an emphasis on skill and will, which the Knights have already been doing for years.

"We want a skilled team, one with depth that can create offence through all four lines," Jankowski said. "I believe the day of the role player with the Canadian roster is over. Teams are just too good. When you take players to play a specific role, they often end up being not good enough, especially at the world juniors, because of the depth of the other countries.

"We found last year if we take skilled players that play the right way and have high-end character, we have the depth in our country. We don't want to cut that in half."

London and area should be well-represented at the world juniors this year. Lawson Crouse, the Kingston Frontenacs power forward, is back in the fold.

Memorial Cup champ Mitch Vande Sompel is on Team OHL's roster, even while still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. The Generals defender has yet to play a regular-season game.

"These games are going to be a starting point for him and we'll see how things go from there," Jankowski said. "Certainly (it's) a disadvantage that he has missed this amount of time but he plays himself right into the (world junior) equation by being in the Canada-Russia game and having an opportunity to play at this level and show what he can do."

That's all you can ask -- no matter where you line up.

ryan.pyette@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/RyanatLFPress

CANADA-RUSSIA SERIES

(Knights and London/area players who will suit up for Team OHL next month in the Canadian Hockey League's exhibition series)

In Owen Sound (Nov. 12): Travis Konecny (67's).

In Windsor (Nov. 16): Mitch Marner (Knights), Victor Mete (Knights), Jakob Chychrun (Sting), Alex Peters (Firebirds), Mitch Vande Sompel (Generals).

Both games: Lawson Crouse (Frontenacs), Spencer Watson (Frontenacs), Roland McKeown (Frontenacs).