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OHL Owen Sound Attack

Bigras Makes Team Canada

August 7, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Owen Sound Attack News Release


It was bittersweet news for the Owen Sound Attack as they learned that defenseman Chris Bigras earned a spot on Canada's National Under-18 team, while forward Zach Nastasiuk did not. Bigras, 17 finished his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League with 3 goals, 16 assists and a +7 rating in 49 regular season games. The Elmvale native followed that up with an impressive playoff, tallying 2 goals and 3 assists in 5 playoff games en route to being named the Attack's Playoff MVP. Chris will try to follow in the footsteps of teammates Jarrod Maidens and Gemel Smith who won Gold for Canada at the same event last year.

Canada's roster is made up of 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders. Head coach Todd Gill (Cardinal, Ont./Kingston, OHL), assembled the roster with support from assistant coaches Yanick Jean (Alma, Que./Victoriaville, QMJHL) and Scott Walker (Cambridge, Ont./Guelph, OHL), Kevin Prendergast, Hockey Canada's head scout for the men's Program of Excellence, and Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada's vice-president of hockey operations/national teams.

"It was a very competitive camp, we could of easily chosen all these players to play in the tournament," said Gill. "There is a lot of talent on the ice in this country, and we look forward to getting to Europe and continuing Canada's great tradition at this event."

Canada has won the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament four consecutive years, and has won 17 of 21 summer under-18 tournaments since 1991. It will play in Group B in Piestany with Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland. Group A, which consists of Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic and the United States, will play out of Breclav.

Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team breakdown

Two goaltenders, seven defencemen, 13 forwards

22 players from the Canadian Hockey League

Nine players from the Western Hockey League

Seven players from the Ontario Hockey League

Six players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

21 players with experience in Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence

Canada will face Czech Republic in a pre-tournament game in Piestany on Saturday, Aug. 11 before opening the tournament against Switzerland on Monday, Aug. 13. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals on Friday, Aug. 17, with the gold medal game scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18.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.

The Attack wish to congratulate Chris on this incredible accomplishment and also thank Zach for representing the Attack organization with pride throughout the tryout process.

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