WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Team Western Unveils Roster

Published on November 15, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Winnipeg, Manitoba - Hockey Manitoba and the Saskatchewan Hockey Association are proud to announce the members for Team West who will be competing in the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge in Timmons, Ontario from December 29, 2009 to January 4, 2010.

The announcement of the final roster, which includes 11 players from Saskatchewan and 11 players from Manitoba, concludes a lengthy selection process that has been going on in both provinces.Players first take part in regional camps.The top players from each region then compete against each other in a Spring Tournament, and from there, the top players attend a Summer Camp. Eleven (11) players are then chosen from each of the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Branches to form Team West.

Among the players chosen were three western Manitobans including two from Brandon, not to mention four Brandon Wheat Kings' prospects - defencemen Rene Hunter and Jordan Fransoo as well as forwards Austin Lewis and Jens Meilleur.

Fransoo, Meilleur and Lewis were all chosen by the Wheat Kings in the fifth, seventh and 9th rounds respectively in the 2008 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Hunter meanwhile was listed in 2008-09 by Brandon.

While Hunter and Meilleur are currently playing in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with Portage and Wayway, Fransoo is with the Saskatoon AAA Midget Contacts while Lewis is skating with the AAA Midget Wheat Kings in Brandon.

Lewis joins Mitchell Vanteeling of Brandon and Minnedosa's Chad Robinson as western Manitoba products named to the club.

Team West will look to continue their strong showing; the coaching staff is confident in this team's abilities. Team West has been in the medal round three of the last four events and is looking forward to a strong showing in advance of the Under 17 Challenge moving to Winnipeg and Manitoba for the 2011 and 2012 events.

Team West departs for Timmons on December 26th and will see its first action in an exhibition game against the CzechRepublic on Monday December 28th.Tournament play begins Tuesday, December 29th versus Quebec.

In other Wheat King news, Brandon closes out a 5-game home stand Sunday night at Westman Place against the visiting Regina Pats. Puck drop is at 6 p.m.

Tickets are on sale all afternoon Sunday at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2009


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