Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Tuesday the 22 players who will play for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team.
The team, which features 20 players lacing up their skates in the Canadian Hockey League, will take to the ice at the 2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, August 8-13 in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia.
“It was a very competitive camp, and choosing these 22 players was by no means an easy task,” said head coach Steve Spott. “All of the players named today have earned their spot on the roster, and we look forward to getting to Europe and continuing Canada’s great tradition at this event.”
The roster was finalized Tuesday following a four-day selection camp at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary,includes:
Goaltender: Daniel Altshuller, Nepean (CCHL); Domenic Graham, Drummondville (QMJHL).
Defence: Mathew Dumba, Red Deer (WHL); Michael Matheson, Lac St-Louis (LHMAAAQ); Adam Pelech, Erie (OHL); Derrick Pouliot, Portland (WHL); Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton (WHL); Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough (OHL); Dominic Poulin, Chicoutimi (QMJHL); Morgan Rielly, Moose Jaw (WHL).
Forwards: Andreas Athanasiou, London (OHL); Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat (WHL); Brendan Gaunce, Belleville (OHL); Scott Laughton, Oshawa (OHL); Jarrod Maidens, Owen Sound (OHL); Mathew Campagna, Sudbury (OHL); Charles Hudon, Chicoutimi (QMJHL); Félix Girard, Baie-Comeau (QMHL); Kerby Rychel, Windsor (OHL); Gemel Smith, Owen Sound (OHL); Matia Marcantuoni, Kitchener (OHL); Sean Monahan, Ottawa (OHL); Thomas Wilson, Plymouth (OHL).
Canada has won the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament three straight years, and has won 15 of 20 summer under-18 tournaments since 1991. It will play in Group A in Breclav with the Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland. Group B, which consists of Finland, Russia, Slovakia and the United States, will play out of Piestany.
Canada will face Slovakia in a pre-tournament game in Piestany on Saturday, August 6 before opening the tournament against Sweden on Monday, August 8. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals on Friday, August 13, with the gold medal game scheduled for Saturday, August 14.
A full schedule is available at http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/171235/la_id/1.htm.
There will be no TV or radio coverage of the event. Hockey Canada’s official website, www.hockeycanada.ca, is the place to find complete coverage of Canada at the tournament.
