Firebirds’ Dellandrea Named Assistant Captain of Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team for 2018 IIHF World Championship in Russia
CALGARY, Alta. – Flint Firebirds forward Ty Dellandrea has been named an assistant captain for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team. Dellandrea and Team Canada will begin their quest for Gold this morning when the puck drops on the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship in Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk, Russia. Canada will face-off against the United States at 10:30 a.m. (ET). The game will be internationally televised live on TSN throughout Canada and on the NHL Network in the United States.
Dellandrea and defenseman Ty Smith are Canada’s only two returnees from last year’s U18 Worlds, but there’s no shortage of familiar faces as Ryan Merkley, Jack McBain, Kevin Bahl and Serron Noel all played alongside Dellandrea and Smith at last year’s Hlinka tournament.
“I learned a lot last year and I think that helped in my success this year with Flint,” Dellandrea said. “The Hlinka and other games like the CHL Top Prospects game and now coming to this, I think it really helps a lot. Every day you try to learn something new and try to get better every day.”
Dellandrea finished second on the Firebirds’ roster with 59 points (27G, 32A) in 67 games throughout the 2017-18 season.
“We would like to extend our congratulations to Ty for being selected to play for Team Canada in the upcoming IIHF World Under 18 Championships,” said Flint Firebirds Vice President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Barclay Branch. “This honor is a reflection of Ty’s hard work, dedication and commitment to being an elite athlete and person, and we wish him the best of luck at the event.”
Last year, Dellandrea was one of just three under-aged players to be selected for Canada’s Men’s U-18 National Team for the 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship in Poprad and Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia. He was also among those on the National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team that claimed gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in August.
