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WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

League High 3 T-Birds to Play for Team Canada at 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge

October 16, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


KENT - Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge announced today center Kai Uchacz, left wing Conner Roulette, and goalie Thomas Milic have been selected to play for Team Canada at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Uchacz, Roulette, and Milic are three of 66 players selected by Hockey Canada to represent their country at the tournament. Hockey Canada will assign the 66 players to Team Canada White, Team Canada Black and Team Canada Red in the coming weeks.

The three T-Birds selected by Hockey Canada are the most players from one team in the WHL. Two other CHL teams, the Quebec Remparts and Val-d'Or Foreurs, each have three players taking part in the tournament.

The 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge takes place from November 2 to November 9 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Eight national teams will compete over the seven-day tournament. Team Canada Black, Team Canada White, the Czech Republic and United States will play in Group A. Team Canada Red, Finland, Russia and Sweden will comprise Group B.

"We are very proud of all three for their selection by Hockey Canada. We are confident they will represent the Thunderbirds and Canada very well on the international stage," said La Forge.

"Their selections are a credit to the hard work of our scouting staff, led by Cal (Filson) and Mark (Romas)," continued La Forge.

Uchacz was selected by the T-Birds in the first round, 10th overall, in the 2018 Bantam Draft. This season Uchacz has played five games and has two assists. He scored his first goal as a T-Bird on March 13, 2019, in a 6-5 win over Portland.

Roulette was selected by the T-Birds in the second round, 34th overall, in the 2018 Bantam Draft. Roulette has appeared in seven games this season and has four goals. He had his first career hat trick in a 5-3 win over Victoria on October 5.

Milic was selected by the T-Birds in the third round, 51st overall, in the 2018 Bantam Draft. This season Milic is playing for the Burnaby Winter Club Prep team in the CSSHL. In five games he has a 1.21 goals against average and a .957 save percentage.

The 66 players were selected by Brad McEwen, head scout for Hockey Canada, with assistance from Hockey Canada's Under-17 Program of Excellence management group lead Martin Mondou, and regional scouts Rob Simpson (Ontario), Jason Smart (West), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic), Shaun Sutter (West) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario).

The T-Birds are back at accesso ShoWare Center on Friday, October 18, to play the Brandon Wheat Kings at 7:35pm. Single game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.

The T-Birds are now taking orders for Flex-24 Ticket packages. Fans that purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2019-20 season.

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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.

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