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WHL Vancouver Giants

Colton Roberts Invited to Canada's U-17 Summer Development Camp

June 9, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Vancouver Giants defenceman Colton Roberts
Vancouver Giants defenceman Colton Roberts
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rob Wilton)

Vancouver, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants are pleased to announce that 2006-born defenceman Colton Roberts (Maple Ridge, B.C.) has been invited to attend Hockey Canada's U-17 Summer Development Camp which will run from July 10 to July 16 in Calgary, AB.

Originally selected by the Giants with the 11th overall selection in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, the 6'4" right-shot blueliner is the reigning CSSHL Defenceman of the Year. In 31 games with the Delta Hockey Academy's U17 Prep program, Roberts managed nine goals and 36 assists for 45 points to go with 48 penalty minutes. He signed with the Giants in December, 2021 and appeared in six total games for the Giants (Five in the regular season, and one in the playoffs). He notched his first career WHL point in Prince George on February 11th.

"When we drafted Colton in December we knew we were adding a player with great leadership on and off the ice," said Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta. "Colton is highly deserving of this opportunity. We're excited for him, and we know that he'll thrive during his first experience with Hockey Canada and will represent the Giants and his family with the utmost leadership and class."

Previous recent Vancouver Giants to represent Canada at the U-17 level include:

- Mazden Leslie (2021)

- Ty Halaburda (2021)

- Justin Sourdif (2018)

- Bowen Byram (2017)

Per Hockey Canada's Release today:

For the duration of the week-long camp, the players - 10 goaltenders, 30 defencemen and 60 forwards - will be split into five teams for on- and off-ice training, fitness testing, practices, intrasquad games and classroom sessions.

Alan Millar, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada, led the player selection process, with assistance from U17 head scout Byron Bonora and regional scouts Rob Simpson (Ontario), Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario), as well as Member representatives.

"The national under-17 development camp is the first stage in introducing these athletes to the Program of Excellence, and it is a great opportunity for them to develop as players and learn what it takes to wear the Maple Leaf," said Millar. "We look forward to enhancing these young players' ongoing development during this camp and starting the process of building our three national U17 teams for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this fall."

Following the camp, players will continue to be evaluated through the early portion of the 2022-23 season before 66 are named to one of three Canadian national teams - Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White - that will compete at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scheduled for Nov.5-12 in Langley and Delta, B.C.

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Images from this story

Vancouver Giants defenceman Colton Roberts
Vancouver Giants defenceman Colton Roberts
(Rob Wilton)		 Vancouver Giants defenceman Colton Roberts
Vancouver Giants defenceman Colton Roberts
(Rob Wilton)		  



Western Hockey League Stories from June 9, 2022


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