
57 WHL Players Called For International Duty
Published on December 9, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 57 WHL players will have the opportunity to represent their respective countries in international competition in December and January.
A total of 41 WHL players have already been named to national teams destined for international competition at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship or for the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
In addition, 16 WHL players have been invited to national team selection camps for World Junior Championship play.
28 WHL players will take part in the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Timmins, ON, from December 29, 2009 to January 4, 2010. Team West, consisting of players from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, will be represented by 10 players who have played in the WHL this season. Team Pacific, which includes Alberta and B.C.-born players, features 18 WHL players.
Two WHL players have been selected to Team USA's preliminary roster for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, SK, from December 26, 2009 to January 5, 2010.
A total of 10 WHL players will attend the selection camp for Canada's World Junior entry. Hockey Canada's National Junior team selection camp begins on December 12th in Regina.
Four WHL players have been invited to the Czech Republic's National Junior team selection camp for competition at the Under-20 level, while 12 others have been named to the roster for their respective nations' World Junior entry.
Here are all the WHL players, by team, who have been already named to or are trying out for national teams (Indicates Selection Camp):
BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
-Scott Glennie, F (Canada, WJC)*
-Toni Rajala, F (Finland, WJC)
-Brayden Schenn, C (Canada, WJC)*
CALGARY HITMEN
-Brandon Kozun, F (Canada, WJC)*
-Martin Jones, G (Canada, WJC)*
CHILLIWACK BRUINS
-Roman Horak, F (Czech Republic, WJC)*
EDMONTON OIL KINGS
-Travis Ewanyk, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Michael St. Croix, F (Team West, U-17)
-Tomas Vincour, F (Czech Republic, WJC)*
EVERETT SILVERTIPS
-Radko Gudas, D (Czech Republic, WJC)*
-Ryan Murray, D (Team West, U-17)
-Rasmus Rissanen, D (Finland, WJC)
KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
-JC Lipon, F (Team West, U-17)
-Colin Smith, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
KELOWNA ROCKETS
-Brandon McMillan, F (Canada, WJC)*
KOOTENAY ICE
None
LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES
-Luca Sbisa, D (Switzerland, WJC)
-Michael Sofillas, F (Team West, U-17)
MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
-Boston Leier, F (Team West, U-17)
-Colin Mospanchuk, F (Team West, U-17)
MOOSE JAW WARRIORS
-Travis Hamonic, D (Canada, WJC)*
-Joey Kornelson, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS
-Gasper Kopitar, F (Slovenia, WJC Div. 1)
-Nino Niederreiter, F (Switzerland, WJC)
-Ty Rattie, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Luke Walker, F (United States, WJC)*
-Tyler Wotherspoon, D (Team Pacific, U-17)
PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS
-Brock Balson, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Mark McNeill, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Igor Revenko, RW (Belarus, WJC Div. 1)
-Harrison Ruopp, D (Team West, U-17)
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS
-Wilson Dumais, F (Team West, U-17)
-Jesse Forsberg, D (Team West, U-17)
-Marek Viedensky, F (Slovakia, WJC)
RED DEER REBELS
-Andrej Kudrna, F (Slovakia, WJC)
-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
REGINA PATS
-Myles Bell, D (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Tyler Borstmayer, D (Team West, U-17)
-Jordan Eberle, CF (Canada, WJC)*
-Colten Teubert, D (Canada, WJC)*
SASKATOON BLADES
-Brent Benson, F (Team West, U-17)
-Jyri Niemi, D (Finland, WJC)
-Duncan Siemens, D (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Dalton Thrower, D (Team Pacific, U-17)
SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS
None
SPOKANE CHIEFS
-Brady Brasssrt, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Jared Cowen, D (Canada, WJC)*
-Mitch Holmberg, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Tyler Johnson, C (United States, WJC)*
-Stefan Ulmer, D (Austria, WJC Div. 1)
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
-Cody Eakin, F (Canada, WJC)*
-Adam Lowry, F (Team Pacific)
-Stepan Novotny, F (Czech Republic, WJC)*
-Reece Scarlett, D (Team Pacific, U-17)
TRI-CITY AMERICANS
-Sergei Drozd, F (Belarus, WJC Div. 1)
-Zac Yuen, D (Team Pacific, U-17)
VANCOUVER GIANTS
-Nathan Burns, F (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Zach Hodder, D (Team Pacific, U-17)
-Sebastian Svendsen, F (Denmark, WJC Div. 1)
Western Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2009
- Rockets 2-And-0 On Road Trip - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Fans Raise In Excess Of $23,000 For Lakewood Police - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Oil Kings Iced By Kootenay - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cinderella Comeback Falls Short For Blades - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Defenceman Michael Stone Signs With Phoenix Coyotes - Calgary Hitmen
- Zero Is The Magic Number - Spokane Chiefs
- Another Hurricanes Blockbuster - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Pats Acquire Ashton And Orfino - Regina Pats
- Niemi Gets The Call From Team Finland - Saskatoon Blades
- Lakewood Police Independent Guild Fundraiser Update - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wheat Kings Vs. Blades Live On Shaw TV - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Nino Niederreiter Invited To Swiss World Junior Team Camp - Portland Winterhawks
- 57 WHL Players Called For International Duty - WHL
- Luke Walker, Spencer Bennett Injury Updates - Portland Winterhawks
- Blades Fifth In CHL Rankings - Saskatoon Blades
- Rockets Draft Pick To Make Debut - Kelowna Rockets
- WHL Hockey Live On Shaw: Wednesday, December 9 - Brandon Wheat Kings at Saskatoon Blades - WHL
- Blades Clash With Division Foe Wheat Kings - Saskatoon Blades
- Game Night: Kelowna - Regina Pats
- Chiefs Blank Cougars - Spokane Chiefs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

