20 CHL Players Win Silver with Canada Black at 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
20 CHL players have won silver with Team Canada Black at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Eli Zummack (Spokane Chiefs) scored the lone goal in a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sweden in Saturday’s gold medal game.
Outshot 35-28, Canada Black had 33 saves from goaltender Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads).
“We went through our process – we stuck to everything that we tried to do on a daily basis, ever since we came here a couple weeks ago to the Soo, and overall the kids really left it on the ice,” said Team Canada Black head coach Paul Boutilier of his team’s progress through the tournament. “We’re proud of the effort. Every player in there gave it their all. The Soo was fantastic – the people, our volunteers, the whole group. Our local committee here did a real good job. We were proud to come here and we experienced a real great hockey town.”
Sweden claims its second gold medal in the history of the event and first since 2013 while Canada medals for the second time since changing to a three team format in 2014, following up Team Canada White’s gold medal effort last year.
In other Saturday action, Pavel Gogolev (Peterborough Petes) and Team Russia defeated Team Canada White 6-1 to claim bronze.
A pair of CHL defencemen were named to World Under-17 Hockey Challenge All-Star Team following the gold medal game. Team Canada Black rearguard Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs) finished the tournament with two goals, two assists and four points in six games to earn all-star honours while Team Canada White blueliner Jett Woo (Moose Jaw Warriors) was named as well after recording a goal and three assists over six contests.
SILVER MEDALISTS – TEAM CANADA BLACK (20 CHL PLAYERS):
Goaltenders:
Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads)
Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)*
Defencemen:
Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Declan Chisholm (Peterborough Petes)
Connor Corcoran (Windsor Spitfires)
Owen Lalonde (Sudbury Wolves)
Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs)
Giovanni Vallati (Kitchener Rangers)
Forwards:
Dawson Baker (Sudbury Wolves)*
Luka Burzan (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Andrew Coxhead (Quebec Remparts)
Aidan Dudas (Owen Sound Attack)
Eric Florchuk (Victoria Royals)
Nolan Foote (Kelowna Rockets)
Brett Kemp (Everett Silvertips)
Adam McMaster (North Bay Battalion)
Allan McShane (Erie Otters)
Tyler Popowich (Vancouver Giants)
Chase Wouters (Saskatoon Blades)
Eli Zummack (Spokane Chiefs)*
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Paul Boutilier (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Assistant Coach: David Struch (Regina Pats)
*- committed to CHL team for 2016-17 season
Since the first World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (then known as the Quebec Esso Cup) in 1986, more than 1,600 NHL draft picks have played in the tournament, including 13 of the last 16 first-overall selections (Ilya Kovalchuk, 2001; Rick Nash, 2002; Marc-André Fleury, 2003; Alexander Ovechkin, 2004; Erik Johnson, 2006; Patrick Kane, 2007; John Tavares, 2009; Taylor Hall, 2010; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011; Nathan MacKinnon, 2013; Aaron Ekblad, 2014; Connor McDavid, 2015; Auston Matthews, 2016).
For more information on the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook or Twitter.