It was a little bit like Christmas morning for a pair of Manitobans and a trio of Winnipeg Jets' prospects on Monday.

Sure, it will be a few weeks before they find out if they'll be representing their country during the holiday season at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Montreal and Toronto, but the unveiling of Canada's final selection camp roster was an important step for Madison Bowey of Winnipeg and Travis Sanheim of Elkhorn, along with Josh Morrissey, Nic Petan and Eric Comrie.

At a morning press conference at the Bell Centre, the nation found out which 29 names were on the list of invitees.

“I was definitely excited. When you're growing up, it's any kids dream to play in the national junior tournament at Christmas-time,” said Bowey, a blue-liner with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League who was chosen by the Washington Capitals in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft and figures to play a prominent role on this team.

“It's definitely a thrill but the hard work is just going to get started now. The camp is going to be very competitive and I'm looking forward to it.”

Bowey isn't the only one.

“Yeah, it was obviously an exciting phone call to receive. Not only for me, but my family as well,” said Sanheim, whose meteoric rise from the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League to being a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers last summer is adding another chapter to the already-impressive tale. “It's an exciting time.

There's a ton of skill on that roster. I'm looking forward to camp and the competition and the battle that is going to begin right at the start of camp.”

Comrie is one of only two goalies invited to camp, meaning he's all but assured a spot on the club along with Zuch Fucale, who is one of seven returnees on the roster.

A year ago, Comrie was disappointed to be left off the list as Hockey Canada made the decision to bring only two netminders to camp.

This time around, the emotions were vastly different.

“I'm just trying to live in the moment right now,” said Comrie, chosen by the Jets in the second round in 2013. “It's just so exciting. It can't get any better than that.

First of all, you're playing for your country and you're representing your heritage and where you're from. It means so much to you as a person and to do it in your own country, words can't describe how exciting and humbling it is.”

The starting job is basically Fucale's to lose, but you never know what's going to happen in a short tournament and Comrie will be ready when called upon.

Comrie and Fucale are good friends and have shared the crease before, resulting in a gold medal for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Under-18 World Championship.

Morrissey is planning to draw on his experiences from last year's world junior, plus his run to the Calder Cup final with the St. John's IceCaps.

“Anytime you lose, as much as it's hard on you, I think you can learn a lot and sometimes more, in those situations about what it takes to win in a tournament like that and at that level.

It's something where it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, all through the next year, until you can get back there,” said Morrissey, the Jets' first-round pick in 2013.

“I'm just excited to potentially have the chance again. I always watched the world juniors as a kid and having had the chance to play last year was really special.

This year, having the chance, potentially, if all goes well, to play in Canada in front of crazy crowds in Montreal and Toronto, would be pretty amazing and I'm sure it would be something that I'd never forget.

Definitely, that's one of the things I've been working towards and looking forward to since I've been sent back (to junior).”

Petan is also motivated to make this second chance count.

“It's a real honour to have a second opportunity to be on Team Canada. It was a dream come true last year and it's that much more important this year to perform the best we can on home soil,” said Petan, another Jets' second-rounder in 2013. “To have the crowd behind you along the way will be an amazing feeling.”