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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Holzapfel and Ellerby to Attend Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp

December 3, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on today that 37 of Canada's best junior-aged hockey players (born in 1988 or later) have been invited to take part in Canada's National Junior Selection Camp from December 10-14, 2007 at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary, AB. Among those named were Moose Jaw Warriors Riley Holzapfel and Keaton Ellerby.

Holzapfel, as Captain of the Warriors, will bring leadership to the ice. The 2006 NHL Draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers is no stranger to International competition as he has represented Team WHL twice in the ADT Canada Russia Challenge. Teammate, and the 2007 1st round draft pick of the Florida Panthers, Keaton Ellerby has also competed in the ADT Canada Russia Challenge and was a member of the 2007 Canada Russia Super Series Earlier this season.

"The quality and skill of the 37 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 system," stated Al Murray, Head Scout for Canada's National Men's Teams. Murray traveled coast to coast during the first part of the hockey season assessing players in preparation of the Selection Camp.

Holzapfel and Ellerby will travel to Calgary on Monday, December 10th, and will take to the ice that same evening at the Father David Bauer Olympic Area in Calgary (view the full schedule at www.hockeycanada.ca ).

All practices at the Selection Camp, Dec. 10-14th are open to the public free of charge. Details on the selection camp will be announced next week at www.hockeycanada.ca. Tickets for any games will only be sold at the door prior to games for $5.

Canada will play its first game of the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th versus the Czech Republic at 2:00pm ET, a game that will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on the FAN radio network (check local listings).

Canada has medaled in nine straight World Junior Championships including: gold medal performances in 2007, 2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.

Canada's 2008 National Junior Team Selection Camp Breakdown 'By The Numbers'

- Returning 2007 National Junior Team players:

o 3 - Karl Alzner, Leland Irving, Brad Marchand

- Players who represented Canada in the 2007 Canada/Russia Super Series: o 22

G - Jonathan Bernier, Leland Irving, Steve Mason

D - Karl Alzner, Drew Doughty, Keaton Ellerby, Josh Godfrey, Thomas Hickey, Logan Pyett, Luke Schenn, Ty Wishart F - Zach Boychuk, Cory Emmerton, Colton Gillies, Claude Giroux, Zach Hamill, Stefan Legein, Brad Marchand, Brandon Sutter, John Tavares, Kyle Turris, Dana Tyrell

- Players who took part in the ADT CHL Canada/Russia Challenge : o 35

G - Bernier, Irving, Mason, Sexsmith

D - Alzner, Bodnarchuk, Doughty, Ellerby, Godfrey, Hickey, Marshall, Pyett, Schenn, Subban, Wishart

F - Boychuk, Emmerton, Esposito, Gillies, Giroux, Halischuk, Hamill, Holzapfel, Legein, MacLean, Marchand, Matthias, Perreault, Simmonds, Stamkos, Sutter, Tavares, Turris, Tyrell, White

- Minor Hockey / Hockey Canada Branch breakdown:

o 13 - Ontario Hockey Federation

o 7 - Hockey Alberta

o 5 - BC Hockey

o 4 - Hockey Quebec

o 3 -Saskatchewan Hockey Association

o 2 - Ottawa District Hockey Association, Hockey Nova Scotia

o 1 - Hockey Manitoba

- Where they are playing:

o 15 players from the Western Hockey League (WHL)

o 13 players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

o 7 players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

o 2 players from U.S. College Hockey (NCAA)

- Program of Excellence experience:

o Twenty-one of the 37 players have played for Canada's National Under-18 Team;

o Twenty-four (24) of the 37 players have been involved in Canada's Regional Under-17 Program of Excellence;

o Four players - MacLean, Perreault, Simmonds, Spaling - invited to Selection Camp will be looking for their first ever experience on a regional or national team;

- Leadership:

o Six (6) players (Alzner, Bodnarchuk, Emmerton, Hickey, Holzapfel, Pyett) are currently captains of their respective teams, and twenty (20) players are alternate captains;

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