WHL Prince Albert Raiders

Morrissey and Draisaitl Set to Face-Off at World Under-18 Championship

Published on April 17, 2013 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release


Prince Albert SK- For the second time this year, two Prince Albert Raiders will go head to head in international competition, as Josh Morrissey and Leon Draisaitl have been selected to represent their countries at the 2013 World Under-18 Championships in Sochi, Russia.

Morrissey returns to the tournament on behalf of Canada following a Bronze medal effort last year, recording 3 assists in 7 games. The 6', 185-pound defenceman led all Raiders rearguards with 15 goals and 47 points in his sophomore campaign with the Green and Gold and is the Eastern Conference nominee for WHL Scholastic Player of the year.

Drafted by the Raiders in the first round, 6th overall, in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, Morrissey donned the Red and White three times last year, including the 2012 World Under-18 Championship, the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and at the 2012 World Under-17 Challenge.

Draisaitl will represent his home country of Germany for the second time at the event, after leading the team in scoring last year with 2 goals and 5 assists in 6 games. The Cologne product also played for his country at the 2013 World Junior Hockey Championship, where he faced teammate Mark McNeill who was representing Canada, as well as the 2012 World Under-17 Challenge.

Selected by Prince Albert 2nd overall in the 2012 CHL Import Draft, the 6'2", 198-pound forward finished second in team scoring with 58 points in 64 games, and led all Raiders with a plus-22 rating en route to being named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year.

Both Canada and Germany will kick off the tournament in Group B action tomorrow, as Germany faces Sweden and Canada lines up against Slovakia. Morrissey and Draisaitl will go head to head on Saturday. Despite both players participating at the 2012 World Under-17 Challenge and 2012 World Under-18 Championship, they have never faced each other in international competition.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2013


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