WHLers collect letters, wins on Day One of the 2024 U17 World Challenge
Sarnia, Ont.- WHL players earned a large vote of confidence before the puck dropped on their first games at the 2024 U17 World Challenge in Sarnia on Sunday.
Exceptional status defenceman and WHL Rookie of the Month for September/October Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips) was named captain of Team Canada Red, while Victoria Royals defenceman Keaton Verhoeff earned the ‘C’ for Team Canada White.
Daxon Rudolph, who was selected by the Prince Albert Raiders with the first overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, has also been named an alternate captain for Canada White.
Meet the captains! / Voici nos capitaines! 🇨🇦
🔴 C: Landon DuPont
🔴 A: Colin Fitzgerald
🔴 A: Alessandro Di Iorio⚪️ C: Keaton Verhoeff
⚪️ A: Ethan Belchetz
⚪️ A: Daxon Rudolph#WorldU17 | #MondialM17 pic.twitter.com/kQDrQrTDP3— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) November 3, 2024
Twin Medicine Hat Tigers up-and-comers Liam and Markus Ruck combined for a trio of points as the defending champion Canada White cruised to a 6-2 tournament-opening win against Czechia.
Liam served up a helper on Tynan Lawrence’s powerplay strike as Canada leveled the match at 1-1 in the first period.
Midway through the third period, Verhoeff’s quick breakout led to a Canadian four-on-two, with Liam feeding Markus cross-ice for Markus’s first goal of the tournament and a 5-2 lead.
The Canucks went 1/4 on the powerplay while holding the Czechs scoreless on seven powerplay opportunities.
Canada White (1-0) is back in action on Tuesday, November 5 against Sweden (0-0) for a 5:30 p.m. MST puck drop at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia.
In the second match of the day, the WHL contingent combined for another three points in a 3-1 win over Finland.
With Canada Red maintaining a narrow 1-0 lead in the third period, DuPont showed fans why he’s one of the best young players on the planet with a shifty steal in the defensive zone before carrying the puck deep into Finnish territory and lasering a pass to Brandon Wheat Kings forward Jaxon Jacobson for a point-blank shot from the slot and a 2-0 lead.
Jacobson’s goal would stand as the game-winner and Brett Olson (Vancouver Giants) would snag a second assist on an empty-net goal.
DuPont was named Canada Red’s player of the game as the Canadian contingent outshot Finland 33-15. Neither side would register a powerplay goal with Canada Red going 0/4 and Finland going 0/5.
Canada Red returns to the ice on Monday, November 4 to face the United States (0-0) at 5:30 p.m. MST.
A total of 15 WHLers are taking part in the tournament.
Loading ...