ROCKETS SMART AMONG 20 WHL PLAYERS TO REPRESENT CANADA AT 2015 WORLD U17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE
Calgary, AB – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced today the list of 66 players selected to represent Canada at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Of the 66 players, 20 currently play in the WHL. Two 2014 WHL Bantam Draft picks were also selected to the list.
The 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will take place in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, BC from October 30th to November 7th. Over the next few weeks, the Canadians will be named to one of three squads – Canada Black, Canada Red and Canada White. Prior to 2014, Canada was represented by five regional teams.
The 66 players were selected by Hockey Canada Director of Player Personnel Ryan Jankowski, together with Joël Bouchard, a member of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence management group, and regional scouts Carl Bouchard (Quebec), Barclay Branch (Ontario), Wade Klippenstein (West), Kevin Mitchell (Atlantic) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario). These same gentlemen are charged with making up the three Team Canada rosters, which will be announced the week prior to the tournament’s start.
Canada WHL Players – 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
|
Player |
DOB |
Hometown |
WHL Club |
|
|
Ian Scott |
G |
1/11/1999 |
Calgary, AB |
Prince Albert Raiders |
|
Josh Brook |
D |
6/17/1999 |
Roblin, MB |
Moose Jaw Warriors |
|
Nolan Kneen |
D |
3/22/1999 |
North Vancouver, BC |
Kamloops Blazers |
|
Max Martin |
D |
7/25/1999 |
Winnipeg, MB |
Prince George Cougars |
|
Griffin Mendel |
D |
2/18/1999 |
Kelowna, BC |
Kootenay (2014 WHL Bantam Draft) |
|
Ian Mitchell |
D |
1/18/1999 |
Calahoo, AB |
Brandon (2014 WHL Bantam Draft) |
|
Jonathan Smart |
D |
6/1/1999 |
Kelowna, BC |
Kelowna Rockets |
|
Scott Walford |
D |
1/12/1999 |
Coquitlam, BC |
Victoria Royals |
|
Nick Watson |
D |
7/23/1999 |
Delta, BC |
Lethbridge Hurricanes |
|
Jaret Anderson-Dolan |
F |
9/12/1999 |
Calgary, AB |
Spokane Chiefs |
|
Jordan Bellerive |
F |
5/2/1999 |
North Vancouver, B.C. |
Lethbridge Hurricanes |
|
Brett Davis |
F |
6/1/1999 |
Oakbank, MB |
Lethbridge Hurricanes |
|
Cody Glass |
F |
4/1/1999 |
Winnipeg, MB |
Portland Winterhawks |
|
James Hamblin |
F |
4/27/1999 |
Edmonton, AB |
Medicine Hat Tigers |
|
Dawson Holt |
F |
2/16/1999 |
Saskatoon, SK |
Vancouver Giants |
|
Jake Leschyshyn |
F |
3/10/1999 |
Grasswood, SK |
Regina Pats |
|
Stelio Mattheos |
F |
6/14/1999 |
Winnipeg, MB |
Brandon Wheat Kings |
|
Kyle Olson |
F |
3/22/1999 |
Calgary, AB |
Tri-City Americans |
|
Hayden Ostir |
F |
7/6/1999 |
Winnipeg, MB |
Spokane Chiefs |
|
Josh Paterson |
F |
1/21/1999 |
Edmonton, AB |
Saskatoon Blades |
|
Michael Rasmussen |
F |
4/17/1999 |
South Surrey, BC |
Tri-City Americans |
|
Brendan Semchuk |
F |
2/21/1999 |
Kamloops, BC |
Vancouver Giants |
The 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge brings together the top players in the world born in 1999 or later. The three Canadian teams will be joined by the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States, forming two groups of four teams. All eight teams will qualify for the quarter-finals, with the winners advancing to the semifinals, and losers facing off in placement games.
The 22-game tournament will officially kick off Nov. 1 at the Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek with Canada Black taking on Canada White, while Canada Red opens its tournament against Finland at the North Peace Arena in Fort St. John. Both cities will also host two pre-tournament games on Oct. 30.
The gold medal game is Saturday, Nov. 7 in Dawson Creek at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT, and will be shown on TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters, along with the bronze-medal game and the semifinal played in Dawson Creek. All other tournament games, including 12 preliminary-round games, four quarter-finals, two placement games and the semifinal played in Fort St. John, will be available live through FASTHockey webcasts at www.hockeycanada.ca/wu17.
