Skinner Named to 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Published on October 2, 2014 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release
SARNIA, ON - Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Thursday the three Canadian rosters for the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scheduled for Nov. 2-8 in Sarnia-Lambton, Ont. Of the 66 players named to the roster, Lethbridge Hurricanes rookie goalie Stuart Skinner will suit up for Team Black.
The 1998-born Skinner recorded his first career WHL win Tuesday night after making 50 saves in a 4-3 shootout win over the Calgary Hitmen.
The tournament will be the first to feature three Canadian national teams - Black, Red and White. From 1986 to 2014, Canada was represented by five regional teams: Atlantic, Ontario, Pacific, Quebec and West.
"It is an exciting day for Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence," said Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations and national teams with Hockey Canada. "This is a tremendous group of 66 players we have named today, and we're confident they will represent their country with pride and passion as we kick off a new era for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge."
The 66 players were selected by Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada's director of player personnel, together with Joël Bouchard, a member of Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence management group, and regional scouts Donald Audette (Quebec), Brad McEwen (West), Kevin Mitchell (Atlantic) and Kyle Raftis (Ontario).
Players were evaluated with their club teams early in the 2014-15 season, at Canada's national under-17 development camp in Calgary, Alta., in August, and during the 2013-14 season, including at three regional under-16 events: the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, OHL Gold Cup and QMJHL Excellence Challenge.
The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will bring together the top players in the world born in 1998 or later. The under-17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence. Many players who compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge go on to represent Canada with Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team, National Junior Team and National Men's Team.
Since the first under-17 tournament (then known as the Quebec Esso Cup) in 1986, more than 1,300 NHL draft picks have played, including 11 of the last 14 first-overall selections (Ilya Kovalchuk, 2001; Rick Nash, 2002; Marc-André Fleury, 2003; Alexander Ovechkin, 2004; Erik Johnson, 2006; Patrick Kane, 2007; John Tavares, 2009; Taylor Hall, 2010; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011; Nathan MacKinnon, 2013; Aaron Ekblad, 2014).
For more information on the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wu17, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/worldu17 or www.twitter.com/hc_wu17.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 2, 2014
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- 19 WHL Players Named to National Under-17 Squads - WHL
- Kryski to Play for Canada at U-17 World Challenge - Kamloops Blazers
- Chiefs Release Messier - Spokane Chiefs
- Skinner Named to 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Two Hitmen Named to World Under-17 Hockey Challenge - Calgary Hitmen
- Three Giants to Play at U17 Challenge - Vancouver Giants
- Howden & Gregor Make Under-17's - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Josh Anderson to Represent Canada at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Championship Tournament - Prince George Cougars
- Hockey Canada Calls On 3 Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pats Announce Roster Moves - Regina Pats
- Blazers Win 3-1 over Broncos - Kamloops Blazers
- Giants Drop 7-5 Decision in Kelowna - Vancouver Giants
- Slow Start Doesn't Hinder Rockets - Kelowna Rockets
- Hitmen Toppled in Shootout - Calgary Hitmen
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