For two seasons now in the Western Hockey League, Vancouver Giants forward Brendan Gallagher has been virtually unstoppable. With 41 goals last season and 11 more in the playoffs, and with 24 goals in his first 29 games this time around, the diminutive Delta native has continually come up big for his hockey club. Listed at just 5-8 and 175 pounds, Gallagher doesn’t possess the physical tools of many top hockey prospects. However, that hardly matters when he laces up his skates. He may not be big, but as he demonstrates almost every game, he has the ability to come up big.

And Gallagher is hoping his competitive nature combined with his work ethic and tremendous skill set will allow him to earn one of the 22 coveted spots on Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo starting on Boxing Day. The 18-year-old was one of 24 forwards and 40 players invited to Hockey Canada’s evaluation camp in Toronto, which runs from December 12 to 15.

“I think every kid growing up wants to play in the world juniors, and I knew I was eligible this year, so at the start of the year I did make it a goal of mine,” Gallagher told the Georgia Straight following a recent game at Pacific Coliseum. “I knew that it was going to be tough and it was going to take a lot of hard work, so I’m getting close but the job is not done. I’m looking forward to going to camp and, hopefully, I’ll be putting on the jersey come Christmas time.”

After attending a summer camp for potential world-junior candidates, Gallagher knew that he was on Hockey Canada’s radar. But the fifth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens also knew he couldn’t afford to rest on his impressive accomplishments of a year ago. And he hasn’t. Not only is he in a battle for the WHL goal-scoring lead, but as a testament to how hard he plays the game, he’s also amassed more penalty minutes than almost anyone in the running for the league scoring title.

And it’s that will to win, more than his ability to rack up points (although the points won’t hurt), that could play in Gallagher’s favour when Team Canada’s head coach, Dave Cameron, and his staff make their final roster decisions.

“He’s a determined young man, and all he does is compete hard all the time,” said Don Hay, Gallagher’s coach with the Giants and, himself, a former head coach of Canada’s world junior program. “You know you’re going to get a good effort from him every night. There is no wondering if he’s going to show up or if he’s a skill guy that might play tonight but not tomorrow. You know what you’re going to get with him, and I think that’s a real positive.”

Gallagher admitted it’s been tough to put the camp out of his mind since he learned of his invitation late last month. But with the Giants hitting a rough patch in their Western Hockey League schedule with just two wins in eight games as November gave way to December, his focus has been on trying to get his team back on track before he heads east. Should Gallagher make the world junior squad, it’ll mean the Giants will have to make due without one of their top players for more than three weeks. And as a team leader, he wants to ensure things are in order before he departs.

Rather than jinxing himself or applying any additional pressure, Gallagher refused to speculate on his chances of making the final roster, preferring instead to let his actions at camp speak for themselves. With just four days and only a handful of on-ice sessions once he gets to Toronto, Gallagher knows he can’t afford anything less than his best each time out.

“I’m an 18-year-old guy and there’s going to be a bunch of good 19-year-olds, and they can all score goals—everyone that was invited can score goals—so there’s not much thinking that has to be done,” he said. “It’s going to be a very intense camp, I’m sure, because everyone wants that honour and that chance to wear the jersey. You can’t really size up the list and look at the names on it, because every player there is a good player and they’ve got their own skill set, but I think I’m a pretty unique player myself. I’ve just got to go in and make an impression early because it’s such a short camp and you can’t afford to have an off night.”

And after watching Gallagher dominate so often at the WHL level, Hay doesn’t think that will be a problem.

“The one thing that should be very appealing to the people selecting the team is that Brendan can play a lot of different roles,” Hay said. “He can be a fourth-line energy type of guy; he can kill penalties; he can play on the power play; he can be a pest. He can play on the first line and he can play on the fourth line.”

With another year of eligibility, Gallagher will have the opportunity to represent his country when the world juniors return to Canada (Calgary and Edmonton will be cohosts) 12 months from now. But he doesn’t want to wait that long. He has earned the right to compete for a spot on this year’s team, and he’s about to find out if he’s got what it takes.

Based on his age and his size, Gallagher may be a long shot to make the grade. But judged on his drive, determination, and heart, Gallagher may be exactly the kind of player Canada’s junior team can’t afford to leave off the roster.

Jeff Paterson is a talk-show host on Vancouver’s all-sports radio Team 1040. Follow him on Twitter.