Sunday, October 18, 2009

Canada West Roster

Press Release

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), announced on Thursday the 22 players that will represent Canada West at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge, November 1-8 in Summerside, P.E.I.

Canada West has appeared in the gold medal game at all three previous World Junior A Challenges, winning gold in 2006 in Yorkton, Sask., and 2007 in Trail, B.C., before settling for silver last year in Camrose, Alta.

The Canada West roster is comprised of players from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).

“After a high-intensity camp in Okotoks last month, we are confident we have chosen the right players who can bring the gold medal back to Canada West,” said head coach Rylan Ferster (Salmon Arm, BCHL). “We are excited to get to P.E.I. and take on some of the world’s best.”

The selection process for Canada West involved extensive scouting by Ferster, general manager Leonard Strandberg and assistant coaches Barry Butler (Waywayseecappo, MJHL) and Larry Wintoneak (Kindersley, SJHL), and included an evaluation camp featuring 40 hopefuls in Okotoks, Alta., in mid-September.

Canada West’s roster for the 2009 World Junior A Challenge includes:

• Two (2) goaltenders, eight (8) defensemen and 12 forwards

• Six (6) players currently leading or co-leading their teams in scoring (Daniel Carr – St. Albert, John Dunbar – Calgary, Curtis Gedig – Cowichan Valley, Cody Kunyk – Sherwood Park, Ryan Marshall – Swan Valley, Cam Reid – Westside)

• Two (2) players currently leading or co-leading their leagues in scoring (Daniel Carr – AJHL, Ryan Marshall – MJHL)

• One (1) player returning from the 2008 World Junior A Challenge (Tanner Fritz)

• Two (2) players selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (Cam Reid – Nashville, 7th round, 192nd overall; Curtis Gedig – New Jersey, 7th round, 204th overall)

• Eleven (11) players from the BCHL, four (4) players from the AJHL, four (4) players from the MJHL, two (2) players from the SJHL, and one (1) player from the SIJHL

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

No comments: