Pysyk Picked For Canada’s World Junior Selection Camp
Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman and team captain Mark Pysyk is one step closer to making Canada’s National Junior Team that will compete at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, N.Y.
Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced Monday that Pysyk is one of 39 players invited to the National Junior Team selection camp, to be held Dec. 12-15 in Toronto.
From there, Team Canada will be selected and then travel to Buffalo for the World Junior tournament Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
“It’s a great honour to be picked to try out for Canada’s National Junior Team,” Pysyk said. “Any time you get a chance to play for your country and wear the maple leaf on your jersey, it’s really exciting. I can’t wait to compete for a chance to play at the World Junior tournament in Buffalo.”
Pysyk (Sherwood Park, AB) was selected 23rd overall by the Buffalo Sabres at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft this past June. The 18-year-old was the Oil Kings’ top defenceman and most valuable player last season. So far in 2010-11, Pysyk has eight assists and a plus-five rating in 21 games.
He recently competed for Team WHL against Russia at the 2010 Subway Super Series, tallying one assist in two games. His other Team Canada experience includes playing at the 2010 World Junior Development Camp, the 2009 Subway Super Series, the 2009 U-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and the 2009 World Under-17 Challenge.