Saturday, December 24, 2011

BERTAGGIA MAKES THE SWISS U20 GRADE

Press Release

Red Deer, AB -- The Brandon Wheat Kings are pleased to announce that 18-year old left-winger Alessio Bertaggia has made the final 22-man roster for the Swiss U20 Team participating at this year's World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta.

The Wheat Kings' first choice (33rd overall) in last June's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, Bertaggia received the good news on Friday after a six-day tryout camp in Red Deer.

Entering the Christmas break, Bertaggia was leading all first year Western Hockey League players with seventeen goals this season and he was the third highest scoring rookie freshman with 34 points in 35 games.

Bertaggia is one of two Wheat Kings competing in the annual event, joining Brandon captain Mark Stone, who is a member of the Canadian National Junior Team. 16-year old rookie defenceman Ayrton Nikkel meanwhile will be skating with Team Pacific at the World U17 Challenge in Windsor, Ontario.

All three Wheat Kings are expected to miss at least three of Brandon's post-Christmas games as the World Junior Tournament opens up on Boxing Day and concludes on Thursday, January 5th while the World U17 event will conclude on January 4th.

The Wheat Kings will kick off the second half of the regular season with games on Wednesday and Friday, December 28th and 30th against the visiting Regina Pats and Edmonton Oil Kings respectively, before travelling to Saskatoon to meet the Blades in a New Years Game.

While Canada opens up the championship with a game against Finland on Boxing Day, Switzerland will face off against Russia.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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