WHL Prospects To Attend IIHF Development Camp

Press Release

CALGARY, Alta. – Four Canadians, three players and a coach, have been chosen to take part in the 2013 IIHF Hockey Development Camp, taking place July 6-14 in Vierumäki, Finland.

Sam Steel of the Regina Pats and Kaden Elder of the Seattle Thunderbirds are two of the three Canadian players who will attend the camp.  Steel was selected by Regina with the second overall pick in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft while Elder was taken by Seattle with the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 draft.

Close to 400 participants, including 160 players, representing 50 IIHF member nations from five continents will be taking advantage of the unique development and educational event for players, coaches, instructors, managers, administrators and directors.

The camp is used as a platform to launch the IIHF’s development and education programs, specifically aimed at assisting each national association to achieve individually identified objectives, and to promote global growth and development of the game. This includes bringing together players with a wide variety of skill levels to promote the development of emerging hockey nations, with the help of the top hockey nations within the IIHF membership.

The following Canadian players will attend the IIHF Hockey Development Camp:

Sam Steel (forward) – Sherwood Park, Alta.
2012-13 team: Sherwood Park Flyers (Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League/Hockey Alberta)

Kaden Elder (forward) – Saskatoon, Sask.
2012-13 team: Notre Dame Hounds (South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League/Saskatchewan Hockey Association)

Marcus Tesink (defenceman) – Saint John, N.B.
2012-13 team: Saint John Sea Dogs (New Brunswick Bantam AAA Hockey League/Hockey New Brunswick)

The Canadian attending the IIHF Hockey Development Camp as a coach mentor is Bob Caldwell (Deloraine, Man.), who serves as Hockey Manitoba’s head mentor and national chair for the National Coach Mentorship Program. Caldwell has spent close to 40 years in coaching, working at various levels of the game locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

The camp will mark the eighth time the IIHF has brought together young players from around the world since the first camp was held in Nymburg, Czech Republic, in August 1999. In total, Canada has sent 44 players, 10 coaches and three officials from 11 branches.

Five past Canadian attendees have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft: Kyle Chipchura (2001), Morgan Ellis (2007), Steven Hodges (2009), Dan LaCosta (2001) and Jeff Tambellini (1999). In addition, Mike Mondin, head coach of Canada’s National Sledge Team, attended the camp in 2001.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)