WHL Western Hockey League

18 WHL Players invited to Team Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp

Published on December 3, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


OTTAWA, ON - Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Wednesday that 38 of Canada's best junior-aged hockey players (born in 1989 or later) have been invited to take part in Canada's National Junior selection camp from December 11-15, 2008 at the SBP Arena in Ottawa, ON and the Robert-Guertin Arena in Gatineau, QC.

Among the 38 players invited, 18 are currently playing in the Western Hockey League, including 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship gold medalists Zach Boychuk (Lethbridge Hurricanes) and Thomas Hickey (Seattle Thunderbirds). Of the players selected to participate at Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp, only six are eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft including Western Hockey League NHL Top Prospects Evander Kane (Vancouver Giants) and Brayden Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings). In the past 10 years WHL players have made up 40% of Team Canada's National Junior roster, and 60% of Team Canada's defenceman, in the last 10 years, played in the WHL.

Four of the 38 players invited, won gold medals at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Thirty-one of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including thirteen first-round selections and eight second-round picks.

Hockey Canada may add additional players prior to the opening of the selection camp on December 11, in the event that any NHL teams loan Canada's National Junior Team junior-aged eligible players currently playing in the NHL.

"On behalf of Hockey Canada, I would like to congratulate the players named today, along with their club teams, their parents and all the minor hockey coaches and officials who helped them along with the way," said Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada's senior director of men's national teams. "I would also like to make special note of the great partnership that Hockey Canada has with the Canadian Hockey League, which is essential to the success of the Program of Excellence."

"Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence, which includes our under-17 and under-18 programs, has provided many of these players with the preparation and experience for to deal with the rigors of the upcoming World Juniors and high paced international competition," said Al Murray, Hockey Canada's head scout for men's national teams. "The quality and skill of the 38 players invited to the camp next week is a testament of the hard work, commitment and development of all those involved in the Canadian minor hockey and junior hockey system."

Murray traveled coast to coast during the first part of the 2008-09 hockey season assessing players in preparation for the selection camp.

WHL Players invited to Team Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp

Name P S/C HT WT Born Hometown 2008-09 Team Pro status

Chet Pickard G L/G 6'1" 216 11/29/89 Winnipeg, MB Tri-City (WHL) NSH '08 (1, 18)

Tyson Sexsmith G L/G 5'11" 211 03/19/89 Priddis, AB Vancouver (WHL) SJ '07 (3, 91)

Dustin Tokarski G L/G 5'11" 189 09/16/89 Watson, SK Spokane (WHL) TB '08 (5, 122)

Keith Aulie D L/G 6'6" 215 06/11/89 Rouleau, SK Brandon (WHL) CGY '07 (4, 116)

Travis Hamonic D R/D 6'0" 202 08/16/90 St. Malo, MB Moose Jaw (WHL) NYI '08 (2, 53)

Thomas Hickey D L/G 5'11" 194 02/08/89 Calgary, AB Seattle (WHL) LA '07 (1, 4)

Tyler Myers D R/D 6'7.5" 213 02/01/90 Calgary, AB Kelowna (WHL) BUF '08 (1, 12)

Jared Spurgeon D R/D 5'8" 167 11/29/89 Edmonton, AB Spokane (WHL) NYI '08 (6, 156)

Colten Teubert D R/D 6'3" 189 03/08/90 White Rock, BC Regina (WHL) LA '08 (1, 13)

Jamie Benn F/A L/G 6'1.5" 202 07/18/89 Victoria, BC Kelowna (WHL) DAL '07 (5, 129)

Zach Boychuk F/A L/G 5'10" 175 10/04/89 Airdrie, AB Lethbridge (WHL) CAR '08 (1, 14)

Matt Calvert F/A L/G 5'10" 175 12/24/89 Brandon, MB Brandon (WHL) CBJ '08 (5, 127)

Jordan Eberle F/A R/D 5'10" 181 05/15/90 Calgary, AB Regina (WHL) EDM '08 (1, 22)

Tyler Ennis F/A L/G 5'8" 165 10/06/89 Edmonton, AB Medicine Hat (WHL) BUF '08 (1, 26)

Evander Kane F/A L/G 6'1" 180 08/02/91 Vancouver, BC Vancouver (WHL) 2009 Dft/Rep.

Brayden Schenn F/A L/G 6'0" 199 08/22/91 Saskatoon, SK Brandon (WHL) 2009 Dft/Rep.

Brett Sonne F/A L/G 6'0" 187 05/16/89 Maple Ridge, BC Calgary (WHL) STL '07 (3, 85)

Dana Tyrell F/A L/G 5'9.5" 182 04/23/89 Airdrie, AB Prince George (WHL) TB '07 (2, 47)

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