Roulette and Milic Recognized By Hockey Canada With Invitation To Under-18 Team Selection Camp
Duo was set to compete for a chance to represent Canada at 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
KENT, June 11, 2020 — Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge today announced left wing Conner Roulette and goalie Thomas Milic have been recognized by Hockey Canada with an invitation to attend Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 team selection camp.
Roulette and Milic are two of 12 Western Hockey League players, and part of a group of 46 players invited, that were set to compete for a chance to represent Canada at the 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which was scheduled for August 3-8 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, before it was cancelled April 28 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In his rookie season last year Roulette had 19 goals and 20 assists for 39 points in 54 games.
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Roulette was selected by the T-Birds in the second round, 34th overall, in the 2018 Bantam Draft. Roulette signed a WHL Player Agreement with the team on June 5, 2018.
Milic made his T-Birds debut on January 27 and had 23 saves to lead the T-Birds to a 4-2 win over the Regina Pats.
Congratulations to Thomas Milic on his first @TheWHL win! #LetsGoBirds pic.twitter.com/dRxlGtvZtT
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) January 18, 2020
Milic appeared in two games last season with the T-Birds. He played 17 games with the Burnaby Winter Club Prep team last season and had a 1.78 goals against average and a .946 save percentage.
Milic was selected by the T-Birds in the third round, 51st overall, in the 2018 Bantam Draft. Milic signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the team on August 28, 2018.
“It is important for Hockey Canada to recognize the work the players and coaching staff already put in to prepare for the summer and a chance to compete for gold on home ice,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada. “It was a difficult decision to cancel the tournament, as it provides the opportunity to showcase the top under-18 players in a best-on-best international showcase. We want to recognize the 46 players and our three coaches for this tremendous accomplishment, and we look forward to watching all players continue to develop as they look ahead to next season and a chance to compete at the IIHF U18 World Championship.”
In 2018, the tournament was rebranded as the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and hosted in Canada, with Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., serving as co-hosts. In 2019, Canada earned silver in Breclav, Czech Republic following a 3-2 loss to Russia.
Canada has won gold 22 times in 28 years of summer under-18 competition, along with three silver medals and one bronze.
