Villeneuve & Walton Invited to Canada’s National U17 Development Camp

The Sudbury Wolves wish to congratulate recently committed prospects Nathan Villeneuve and Kieron Walton who have been invited to Hockey Canada’s national under-17 development camp which will take place July 10th to 16th at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. The camp will see the invited players be split into five teams for the week-long camp as they participate in a variety of sessions, such as off-ice training, fitness testing, practices, intra-squad games, and classroom learning. This camp is the first step for these players to earn a spot on the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scheduled to take place in Langley and Delta, B.C. in November.

Nathan was selected by the Wolves in the 1st round 3rd overall in April’s 2021 OHL Priority Selection from the Nava Grads U18 AAAs where he notched 26 goals and 41 assists for 67 points in 30 games played. Kieron was the Wolves 2nd round selection in the OHL Priority Selection from the North York Rangers U16 AAAs where he scored 33 goals and 27 assists for 60 points in 43 games last season. While both players have committed to the Wolves organization last month.

For the full roster of 100 players invited to the development camp, click HERE.

Full media release from Hockey Canada to follow: CLICK HERE

100 PLAYERS INVITED TO CANADA’S NATIONAL UNDER-17 DEVELOPMENT CAMP

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has invited 100 players to participate in Canada’s national under-17 development camp, set to take place July 10-16 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

For the duration of the week-long camp, the players – 10 goaltenders, 30 defencemen and 60 forwards – will be split into five teams for on- and off-ice training, fitness testing, practices, intrasquad games and classroom sessions.

Alan Millar, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada, led the player selection process, with assistance from U17 head scout Byron Bonora and regional scouts Rob Simpson (Ontario), Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario), as well as Member representatives.

“The national under-17 development camp is the first stage in introducing these athletes to the Program of Excellence, and it is a great opportunity for them to develop as players and learn what it takes to wear the Maple Leaf,” said Millar.  “We look forward to enhancing these young players’ ongoing development during this camp and starting the process of building our three national U17 teams for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this fall.”

Following the camp, players will continue to be evaluated through the early portion of the 2022-23 season before 66 are named to one of three Canadian national teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White – that will compete at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scheduled for Nov.5-12 in Langley and Delta, B.C.

So far, 77 of the 100 players have been drafted by Canadian Hockey League teams, including 40 from the Ontario Hockey League and 37 from the Western Hockey League, while the remaining 23 are prospects for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft, to be held July 4-5.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.