Saturday, November 15, 2008

Team Pacific Roster is Announced

WHL Press Release

BC Hockey and Hockey Alberta announced today the 22 man roster for the 2009 Team Pacific squad. Of the 22 players selected to compete 21 are currently playing in the Western Hockey League. Team Pacific will compete at the 2009 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni and satellite communities from December 28 – January 4. The World Under 17 Hockey Challenge is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence that continues at the national level with the Under 18 Team and National Junior Team.

Team Pacific is comprised of 11 players from BC and 11 players from Alberta. Each province held a provincial camp over the summer to identify a set number of players; these players were evaluated during the first part of the season by the high performance evaluators.

“The staff of Team Pacific is pleased to announce the selection of the 22 players that will lead the region in Port Alberni in December,” said Team Pacific head coach Tim Kehler. “Our staff feels that the players selected represent the right mix of skill, competiveness and character that will lead our Team to a gold medal at the World U-17 Challenge.”

Team Pacific will compete against four (4) other teams from Canada (Team Ontario, Team West, Team Quebec and Team Atlantic) and five (5) International Teams (Finland, Germany, Slovakia, United States and Russia). The 10 teams will compete against each other for the right to be named the 2009 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge Champion. Team Pacific will look to improve on their fourth place finish in the 2008 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge

The 2009 Team Pacific will look to capture gold for the first time in the history of the tournament. The squad has been carefully put together by the coaching staff and evaluators. Team Pacific will have the home field advantage as the fans in Port Alberni are patiently waiting for their team to arrive. Team Pacific will be in action Sunday, December 28 at 7:00 pm, at the Port Alberni Multiplex when they take on Team USA in exhibition play.

2009 Team Pacific Roster
Name, Hometown, 2008-09 Team

Simpson, Kent - Edmonton, AB - Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Hamilton, Keith - Kelowna, BC - Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
Rutkowski, Troy - Edmonton, AB - Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
Pysyk, Mark - Sherwood Park, AB - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Theriau, Alex - Surrey, BC - Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Chapman, Mitch - Summerland, BC - Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)
Petrovic, Alex - Edmonton, AB - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Madaisky, Austin - Surrey, BC - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Cox, Connor - Lethbridge, AB - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Sundher, Kevin - Surrey, BC - Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
Gal, Blake - Lethbridge, AB - Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Reinhart, Max - West Vancouver, BC - Kootenay Ice (WHL)
Connolly, Brett - Prince George, BC - Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Nicholls, Josh - Delta, BC - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Gallagher, Brendon - Delta, BC - Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Feser, Justin - Red Deer, AB - Tri City Americans (WHL)
MacMaster, Nathan - Calgary, AB - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Ross, Brad - Lethbridge, AB - Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
Lund, Chance - Fairview, AB - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Ranford, Brendan - Edmonton, AB - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Weal, Jordan - North Vancouver, BC - Regina Pats (WHL)
Harrison, Ryan - Kelowna, BC - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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