OHL Prospects Shine at U17 Summer Showcase
The future of the Canadian Hockey League was on display last week in Calgary as Under-17 stars showcased their skills as part of Hockey Canada’s second annual ‘Summer Showcase’.
111 players including 45 Ontario Hockey League prospects were divided among six teams and took part in a series of practices before squaring off in a nine-game mini tournament to end camp.
Team Black emerged victorious with a perfect 3-0 record including a 5-1 win over Team Red in Monday’s 1st Place Game.
A total of nine OHL prospects were members of the tournament champion Team Black including goaltender Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads), defencemen Owen Lalonde (Sudbury Wolves), Connor Corcoran (Windsor Spitfires), Giovanni Vallati (Kitchener Rangers), and forwards Dawson Baker (Sudbury Wolves), Aidan Dudas (Owen Sound Attack), Rhys Forhan (North Bay Battalion), Jack McBain (Barrie Colts), and Adam McMaster (North Bay Battalion).
FINAL: Black 5, Red 1 (1st)
Stats and story: https://t.co/IEwgJrrFm7#U17Camp #WorldU17 pic.twitter.com/it57lWe4TS— World U17 Challenge (@HC_WU17) August 2, 2016
OHL prospects accounted for all five of Team Black’s goals in the final contest and were led offensively by McBain who tallied once with two assists. Baker also found the back of the net twice including the game-winning goal, with Lalonde and McMaster adding singles.
McMaster, chosen 13th overall by the Battalion, led Team Black with two goals and three assists in three games. Fellow Battalion prospect and OHL Cup overtime hero Rhys Forhan finished the tournament with a goal and two assists, while Aidan Dudas, selected 10th overall by the Attack, had four points in three games including a goal and three assists. Vallati, chosen 16th overall by the Rangers, contributed three helpers in three games. Ingham, the first goaltender taken in April’s Priority Selection, allowed just two goals in his share of three games played.
Would like to thank @HockeyCanada for an amazing U17 development camp! Honoured to have participated ?? #TeamBlack
— Jacob Ingham (@JakeIngham) August 1, 2016
Other top performers included Guelph Storm first overall pick Ryan Merkley who scored once with two assists, and recent Oshawa Generals commit Serron Noel who scored three goals in three games for the second place Team Red.
Third place Team Gold was led offensively by Saginaw Spirit third round pick Damien Giroux with a goal and three assists.
Learned so much this past week at the #U17Camp in Calgary, a big thanks to everyone who made this experience a memorable one! #CanadianWay
— Damien Giroux (@damiengiroux20) August 2, 2016
Fourth place Team Blue was led by Erie Otters first rounder Allan McShane with three goals and one assist.
Flint Firebirds first round pick Ty Dellandrea had the tournament’s best single game offensively scoring a goal and three assists in Green’s fifth place victory, while Rangers second rounder Riley Damiani contributed three goals in three games, and Kingston Frontenacs first round pick Nathan Dunkley scored twice with an assist.
Team White was led by Niagara IceDogs top pick Akil Thomas with two goals in three games.
Missing Calgary right about now ? pic.twitter.com/yJvQS48usl
— Akil Thomas (@AkilThomas2) August 3, 2016
In total, OHL prospects netted 35 of the tournament’s 55 goals scored in nine games played.
With events such as the OHL Gold Cup and Hockey Canada’s development camp behind them, players will continue to be evaluated through the early season before 66 are selected to represent Canada on one of three national teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red, and Team Canada White – at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which is scheduled for Oct. 30-Nov. 5 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
#U17Camp players prepare for Excellence at regional U16 events like the @OHLGoldCup.
MORE: https://t.co/FlGlmdyxH3 pic.twitter.com/QKyQlBi1sf— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 30, 2016
U17 Development Camp Game Results and Top OHL Prospect Performers:
Friday July 29 – Gold 3 vs. Green 1
Gold: Giroux (SAG) 1G 2A, MacPherson (NIAG) 1A, Lamour (SAG) SO.
Green: Dunkley (KGN) 1G.
Game Summary
Friday July 29 – Red 4 vs. White 2
Red: Noel (OSH) 2G, Moskal (LDN) 2A, Torchia (OSH) SO.
White: Hayton (SSM) 1G, Foudy (LDN) 1A, Jones (PBO) 4GA.
Game Summary
Saturday July 30 – Black 4 vs. Gold 1
Black: McMaster (NB) 1G 1A, Vallati (KIT) 2A, Forhan (NB) 1G, Dudas (OS) 1G, Ingham (MISS) SO.
Gold: Lamour (SAG) 4GA.
Game Summary
Saturday July 30 – Blue 3 vs. White 2 SO
Blue: McShane (ER) 1G, Bahl (OTT) 1A.
White: Thomas (NIAG) 1G, Jones (PBO) 1GA.
Game Summary
Sunday July 31 – Black 3 vs. Green 2 OT
Black: Dudas (OS) 2A, McMaster (NB) 2A, Doherty (OS) 1G, Baker (SBY) 1A, Ingham (MISS) 2GA.
Green: Damiani (KIT) 1G, Tucker (BAR) 1G, Tinmouth (OTT) 1A.
Game Summary
Sunday July 31 – Red 5 vs. Blue 4
Red: Merkley (GUE) 1G 1A, Gilhula (SBY) 1G, Noel (OSH) 1G, Torchia (OSH) 4GA.
Blue: McShane (ER) 2G 1A, Stevens (SAR) 1G, Denault (PBO) 1G, Bahl (OTT) 1A.
Game Summary
Monday August 1 – Green 8 vs. White 4 (5th Place Game)
Green: Dellandrea (FLNT) 1G 3A, Damiani (KIT) 2G, Dunkley (KGN) 1G 1A, Guest (KIT) 1G 1A, Tucker (BAR) 1G, Roberts (HAM) 1A.
White: Thomas (NIAG) 1G, Jones (PBO) 1A 4GA.
Game Summary
Monday August 1 – Gold 2 vs. Blue 1 (3rd Place Game)
Gold: Wismer (FLNT) 2G, Giroux (SAG) 1A, MacPherson (NIAG) 1A, Lamour (SAG) 1GA.
Blue: Stevens (SAR) 1G.
Game Summary
Monday August 1 – Black 5 vs. Red 1 (1st Place Game)
Black: McBain (BAR) 1G 2A, Baker (SBY) 2G, Forhan (NB) 2A, Lalonde (SBY) 1G, McMaster (NB) 1G, Vallati (KIT) 1A, Dudas (OS) 1A, Ingham (MISS) SO.
Red: Merkley (GUE) 1A, Torchia (OSH) 3GA.
Game Summary
A huge thank you to everyone who was part of #U17Camp! Next stop, #WorldU17 in @CitySSM … puck drops in 89 days! pic.twitter.com/3oZf2TvMcb
— World U17 Challenge (@HC_WU17) August 2, 2016
For more information on Hockey Canada and its national teams, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, and www.twitter.com/hockeycanada.
