Program of Excellence New Experience for CHL Stars
The Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, SK, recently played host to 43 of the Canadian Hockey League’s top players eligible to represent Team Canada at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships. A total of 47 players were invited to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Development Camp which took place August 5-9.
For six players in particular, the camp presented a new and special opportunity to wear the red and white of Team Canada.
Brandon Kozun (Calgary Hitmen), Cameron Gaunce (Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors), Matt Clark (Brampton Battalion), Matt Hackett (Plymouth Whalers), T.J Brodie (Saginaw Spirit), and Gabriel Bourque (Baie-Comeau Drakkar), were all participating in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence for the first time.
“This is a very big privilege for me” said Gaunce. “Over the past season I think I have been able to improve in some of the areas where I wasn’t quite at the level I should be, and with the help of my coaches and through off season training I just feel that my overall game is better.”
Gaunce is coached in Mississauga by Team Canada Associate Coach Dave Cameron and finished third in voting for OHL Defenceman of the Year.
“It really shows a lot about our team” added Gaunce. “Because of the systems we had in place and because of how strong we were in all facets of the game I was really able to have a good season.”
Team success can play a big part in highlighting an individual player over the course of a season. Brandon Kozun turned heads this season in the WHL finishing second in league scoring with 40 goals and 68 assists for 108 points in 72 games with a Calgary Hitmen team that was highly ranked in the BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 rankings for most of the year before falling to the Kelowna Rockets in six games in the WHL Finals.
“We were a pretty close team and it was a really fun thing to be a part of” said Kozun. “Anytime you get named to a camp like this with the top 40 players in the country it is definitely a big honour. To be here is huge, I am just trying to show the coaches and staff what I have.”
Kozun was joined at camp by Hitmen teammate, goaltender Martin Jones who also credits team success.
“Obviously we had an excellent year and from team success you get individual success” said Jones. “Having a great season helped and it is awesome to be here now and I just want to take full advantage of this and enjoy the experience.”
Jones, a three-time winner of the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Year Award this season, is also relatively new to Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence with just one experience competing with British Columbia at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
Defenceman Matt Clark can certainly relate to Kozun and Jones when it comes to team success, as a first year member of the Brampton Battalion, Clark nearly captured an OHL Championship losing in the finals to the Windsor Spitfires in five games.
The season was a big learning curve for the second round selection of the Anaheim Ducks, 37th overall at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, but Clark knows his role if he is going to play for Team Canada.
“I just need to keep to my game, playing physical and strong, and show that I can do that at a top level and at a high pace with the best players” said Clark. “To see some of these guys and how hard they work and how they practice is a great learning experience but it feels great to be among Canada’s best.”
For more information about Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships visit www.hockeycanada.ca
Photo courtesy of Jeff Vinnick Photography