WHL Regina Pats

Carter Ashton Invited to Canada's National Jr. Team Selection Camp

Published on November 29, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


TORONTO, Ont. ‚¬" Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Monday that 39 of Canada's top junior-aged hockey players (born in 1991 or later) have been invited to take part in Canada's National Junior Team selection camp, December 12-15, 2010 at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto, Ont.

Among the 39 players invited, 17 are currently playing in the Western Hockey League, including the Spokane Chiefs' Jared Cowen who helped Canada earn the silver medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, SK. Other notables include the WHL's current leading scorer Linden Vey (Medicine Hat Tigers), first WHL player selected at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft Ryan Johansen (Portland Winterhawks), reigning WHL Defenceman of the Year Tyson Barrie (Kelowna Rockets) and top rated prospect heading into the 2011 NHL Draft Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels). Over the past 10 years, WHL players have made up over 40% of Team Canada's National Junior roster, and close to 60% of Team Canada's defenceman corp.

Carter Ashton will be making his second visit to the selection camp. He was a late cut for the 2010 version of Canada's National Junior Team. He currently leads the blue and white in goals with 14 and it tied for the lead in power play goals with 5. Ashton was also solid at the Subway Superseries, scoring the game's opening goal in the 7-6 shootout loss to the Russians on November 17th in Kamloops

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

Name P S/C Ht. Wt. Born Hometown Club Team Pro Status

Calvin Pickard G L/G 6'0.5" 203 04/15/92 Winnipeg, MB Seattle (WHL) COL '10 (2, 49)

Tyson Barrie D R/D 5'10" 190 07/26/91 Victoria, B.C. Kelowna (WHL) COL '09 (3, 64)

Jared Cowen D L/G 6'5.5" 227 01/25/91 Allan, SK Spokane (WHL) OTT '09 (1, 9)

Brayden McNabb D L/G 6'4" 219 01/21/91 Davidson, SK Kootenay (WHL) BUF '09 (3, 66)

Ryan Murray D L/G 6'0.5" 190 09/27/93 White City, SK Everett (WHL) 2012 Dft/Rep.

Mark Pysyk D R/D 6'1" 187 01/11/92 Sherwood Park, AB Edmonton (WHL) BUF '10 (1, 23)

Carter Ashton F/A L/G 6'3" 219 04/01/91 Saskatoon, SK Regina (WHL) TB '09 (1, 29)

Brett Connolly F/A R/D 6'2" 181 05/02/92 Campbell River, B.C. Prince George (WHL) TB '10 (1, 6)

Cody Eakin F/A L/G 6'0" 187 05/25/91 Winnipeg, MB Swift Current (WHL) WSH '09 (3, 85)

Brendan Gallagher F/A R/D 5'8.5" 175 06/05/92 Delta, B.C. Vancouver (WHL) MTL '10 (5, 147)

Curtis Hamilton F/A L/G 6'3" 202 12/04/91 Kelowna, B.C. Saskatoon (WHL) EDM '10 (2, 48)

Quinton Howden F/A L/G 6'2.5" 192 01/21/92 Oak Bank, MB Moose Jaw (WHL) FLA '10 (1, 25)

Ryan Howse F/A L/G 5'10" 194 07/06/91 Prince George, B.C. Chilliwack (WHL) CGY '09 (3, 74)

Ryan Johansen F/A R/D 6'2" 193 07/31/92 Port Moody, B.C. Portland (WHL) CBJ '10 (1, 4)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins F/A L/G 6'0" 166 04/12/93 Burnaby, B.C. Red Deer (WHL) 2011 Dft/Rep.

Brad Ross F/A L/G 5'11" 174 05/28/92 Lethbridge, AB Portland (WHL) TOR '10 (2, 43)

Linden Vey F/A R/D 6'0" 185 07/01/91 Wakaw, SK Medicine Hat (WHL) LA '09 (4, 96)

Among the invited, two other returning players ‚¬" Calvin de Haan (Carp, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) and Ryan Ellis (Freelton, Ont./Windsor, OHL) helped Canada earn the silver medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask. Ellis also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ont. In addition, thirty-four of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2009 or 2010 NHL Entry Drafts, including eighteen first-round selections and four second-round picks.

Hockey Canada can still add additional players prior to the opening of the selection camp on December 12, in the event that NHL teams loan Canada's National Junior Team junior-aged eligible players currently playing in the NHL.

"On behalf of Hockey Canada, we want to congratulate the players named to the camp roster today, along with their club teams, parents and minor hockey coaches that have helped them reach this level," said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior director of hockey operations/national teams. "As well, we would like to thank the Canadian Hockey League for its partnership and support of the Program of Excellence."

"Thanks to Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence, many of these players have already received the experience necessary to deal with high-paced international competition such as the World Juniors," said Kevin Prendergast, Hockey Canada's head scout of the men's Program of Excellence. "The quality and skill of the 39 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 systems."

Prendergast, who was named head scout in September, travelled coast to coast during the early months of the 2010-11 season, assessing players in preparation for the selection camp.

"On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League, I would like to congratulate all players who have been named to the selection camp roster," said David Branch, president of the CHL. "This is a tremendous honour, and all have worked extremely hard to get to where they are today."

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