Hockey Canada recognizes 43 CHL players and prospects invited to Under-18 Selection Camp
CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has recognized 43 Canadian Hockey League under-18 players and prospects that were invited to attend Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp, as well as the coaching staff for the camp and 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
A total of 46 players were invited including six goaltenders, 14 defencemen and 26 forwards who were to compete for a chance to represent Canada at the 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which was scheduled for Aug. 3-8 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., before it was cancelled April 28 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The camp roster featured 42 players who played for Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red or Team Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat, Alta., and Swift Current, Sask., last November.
In addition, Louis Robitaille (Gatineau Olympiques) was to take the reins behind the bench as head coach, while Alan Letang (Owen Sound Attack) and Dennis Williams (Everett Silvertips) were to serve as assistant coaches.
“It is important for Hockey Canada to recognize the work the players and coaching staff already put in to prepare for the summer and a chance to compete for gold on home ice,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada. “It was a difficult decision to cancel the tournament, as it provides the opportunity to showcase the top under-18 players in a best-on-best international showcase. We want to recognize the 46 players and our three coaches for this tremendous accomplishment, and we look forward to watching all players continue to develop as they look ahead to next season and a chance to compete at the IIHF U18 World Championship.”
Robitaille was named head coach and general manager of the Olympiques on April 8 after spending four seasons (2016-20) as head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres. He also spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Drummondville Voltigeurs (2011-15) and Val-d’Or Foreurs (2015-16). Robitaille was the head coach of Team Canada Red (2018) and an assistant coach with Team Canada Black (2017) at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and won a bronze medal as an assistant coach at the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship.
Letang was named head coach of the Attack in January 2019 after joining the team as an assistant coach in 2016. He also spent two seasons (2014-16) as an assistant with Medvescak Zagreb in the KHL following an 18-year pro career. Letang won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship and, as a player, helped Canada’s National Men’s Team win the 1998 Spengler Cup, along with a bronze medal at the 2006 Deutschland Cup.
Williams is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Silvertips. He has led the Silvertips to two U.S. Division titles and was named WHL Western Conference Coach of the Year in 2017-18. Williams won a silver medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and served as head coach of Team Canada Black at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
With the cancellation of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, focus will now turn to the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship next spring; a host city has not yet been announced. The Czech Republic and Slovakia will host the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup before it returns to Edmonton and Red Deer in 2022.
CHL players and prospects invited to Under-18 Selection Camp:
Goaltenders
Tyler Brennan (Prince George Cougars)
Matteo Drobac (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Benjamin Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
Jacob Goobie (Charlottetown Islanders)
Thomas Milic (Seattle Thunderbirds)
William Rousseau (Quebec Remparts)*
Defencemen
Nolan Allan (Prince Albert Raiders)
Olivier Boutin (Gatineau Olympiques)
Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts)
Jacob Holmes (Soo Greyhounds)
Carson Lambos (Winnipeg ICE)
Jeremy Langlois (Cape Breton Eagles)
Kyle Masters (Red Deer Rebels)
Evan Nause (Quebec Remparts)*
Oscar Plandowski (Charlottetown Islanders)
Graham Sward (Spokane Chiefs)
Cameron Whynot (Halifax Mooseheads)
Olen Zellweger (Everett Silvertips)
Forwards
Liam Arnsby (North Bay Battalion)
Zachary Bolduc (Rimouski Oceanic)
Zach Dean (Gatineau Olympiques)
Nathan Gaucher (Quebec Remparts)
Dylan Guenther (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Brett Harrison (Oshawa Generals)
Cole Huckins (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires)
Riley Kidney (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Zachary L’Heureux (Halifax Mooseheads)
Connor Lockhart (Erie Otters)
James Malatesta (Quebec Remparts)
Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes)
Olivier Nadeau (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Brennan Othmann (Flint Firebirds)
Francesco Pinelli (Kitchener Rangers)
Peter Reynolds (Saint John Sea Dogs)*
Justin Robidas (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Conner Roulette (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Joshua Roy (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Cole Sillinger (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers)
Chase Stillman (Sudbury Wolves)
Zack Stringer (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Danny Zhilkin (Guelph Storm)
* indicates 2020-21 committed prospect
For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_Men.