Rockets alum Ballhorn and Gatenby to represent Canada at FISU Winter Universiade
A pair of former Rockets have been selected to represent Canada at the 30th FISU Winter Universiade. Defencemen Gordie Ballhorn and Joe Gatenby were named to the men’s hockey roster by U SPORTS on Tuesday.
Originally scheduled for January 2021, the tournament runs December 11-21, 2022 in Lucerne, Switzerland.
A total of 102 student-athletes will represent Canada at the tournament, nine teams from seven sports will travel to Switzerland to take part in the event. Canada will compete in ice hockey (W & M), curling (W & M), alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, snowboarding and short track speed skating. This is the first FISU Universiade since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Ballhorn, 24, is currently playing for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, where he is currently serving as their captain. He has six points (2G, 4A) through six games this season.
Ballhorn suited up in 175 WHL regular-season games, all for the Rockets between 2015 and 2018, recording 11 goals and 49 assists for 60 points with 181 penalty minutes and a career a +71 plus-minus rating.
Gatenby, 24, is in his fourth season with the University of New Brunswick, where he is an assistant captain. The Kelowna, BC product has posted three points (1G, 2A) over 12 games this season.
A member of the Rockets 2015 Championship team, Gatenby appeared in 174 regular-season games for the Rockets between 2013 and 2016, recording 44 points (5G, 39A), 100 penalty minutes and a + 64 plus-minus rating.
The Lucerne 2021 Opening Ceremony will take place on December 11 at 7:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. EST, 10:30 a.m. PST). However, curling and ice hockey matches will occur in the days leading up to the official opening.
