Players Excited to suit up for T

By Jesse Watts
rWHL.CA
rSwift Current, SK – Many of the Western Hockey League’s best players have gathered in Swift Current, SK, on Wednesday to represent Team WHL for a pair of games versus a Russian Select team for the final leg of the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.
r
rThe group boasts 25 players – 19 of whom are NHL draft picks – representing 13 WHL teams, and will take on the Russian Selects on Wednesday night in Swift Current and on Thursday in Prince Albert, SK for the final two contests of the six-game series.
r
rFor most of the players, the chance to suit up among the cream of the crop in the WHL and some of the best Junior-aged players in Canada is an opportunity they relish.
r
r“It’s an honor to be included with some of the best players in the WHL,” said Calgary Hitmen star Brett Sonne, who currently shares the WHL scoring lead with Kelowna Rocket sniper and fellow Team WHL member Jamie Benn. “It’s pretty exciting to be playing with guys you play against and hear about, and I expect it to be a good time and good games.”
r
rLike Sonne, Moose Jaw Warriors’ defenseman Travis Hamonic is looking forward to suiting up with many of the star players he has to play against night in and night out in the WHL.
r
r“Walking into that dressing room, you see all the great players in there… to be named among that group of 25 players is a tremendous honor,” said Hamonic, who is joined by fellow Warriors teammates Joel Broda and Jason Bast.
r
r“It’s kind of weird to be playing on the same team with guys you just played against a few days ago, but when we come together we are all friends and we know we get to be a part of something special,” added Hamonic, a New York Islanders prospect.
r
rSonne and Hamonic are two of 17 players who will suit up for Team WHL for the first time. Most of the first-time Team WHLers have watched past editions of the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge and have seen teammates get the opportunity to participate in the event in previous years, and know that the event is much more than just a typical all-star game. Not only is it a chance to play against Russia – traditionally, Canada’s biggest hockey rival – but to make sure they put forth a good showing for the League they represent.
r
r“I’ve watched the series in past years, and it’s great to now be able to play in it,” said Spokane Chiefs’ defenseman Jared Cowen, who is also representing Team WHL for the first time. “The WHL has had a good record against the Russians over the years, so we definitely want to continue that trend.”
r
rPrince George Cougars forward Dana Tyrell is one of the eight returning players from last year’s team. Having participated in the 2007 ADT Canada-Russia series, Tyrell knows the importance of the two games and what is at stake. Yet, for Tyrell, being able to once again wear the Team WHL jersey is also chance to catch up with other players who he played with on last year’s team and friends from the past.
r
r“I’ve known (Seattle Thunderbird) Thomas Hickey and (Lethbridge Hurricane) Zach Boychuk for a long time, and we all train together in the summer,” said Tyrell, who is an assistant captain on the 2008 edition of Team WHL. “We play against each other all season, so it’ll be nice to be a teammate with them.”
r
rWhile the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge is the only opportunity during the season for WHL stars to come together and represent the League, perhaps the event’s biggest role is that it provides the opportunity for Hockey Canada to evaluate players who are eligible to represent Canada’s national junior team at the World Junior Championship.
r
rTeam WHL head coach and Willie Desjardins, also the bench boss for the Medicine Hat Tigers, will be an assistant coach for the 2008 Canadian National Junior team. While he won’t necessarily be responsible for selecting players to attend Hockey Canada’s World Junior team selection camp, he knows what Hockey Canada is looking for and what Team WHL players will need to show in order to make a good impression.
r
r“I think there are a lot of traits that they will look for, but mainly they are looking for guys who will play hard all the time, guys that are great team players, and guys that will play physical,” he said. “This is a team of all-stars, but guys need to realize that they have to be able to adapt to different roles than they may be used to, and who will do the job they are given.”
r
rOf course, all of the players on Team WHL are well aware of what is at stake, and that they need to perform well in the series if they want to turn the heads of Hockey Canada’s brass. Most, though, try not to put too much pressure on themselves or change their game in an attempt to make an impression.
r
r“It’s there a little bit because everyone here dreams of playing for that team,” said Calgary Hitmen forward Brandon Kozun. “But, I just want to focus on these games here, and play the way I play…whatever happens happens, and hopefully I can play well and show what I can do.”