The WHL This Week, News Edition
Published on December 9, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
WESTERN LOOK TO CANADA'S WORLD JUNIOR TEAM - It's no secret the Western Hockey League's talent pool is incredibly deep this year. That's why it wasn't overly shocking to see that 21 of the 32 players invited to Hockey Canada's national junior team selection camp hail from WHL clubs.
"It's definitely a great group of guys," said Red Deer Rebels rearguard Dion Phaneuf, who was one of seven WHL defencemen named to the selection camp and a veteran of last year's squad that won Silver in Helsinki, Finland. "There's lots of Western Hockey League faces on the list which is good to see...it says a lot about the quality of the league."
The 32-player list is rounded out with seven OHL players, three QMJHL players and one NHL player, Patrice Bergeron, who played with the Boston Bruins last year and is currently playing in Providence in the AHL.
With such a WHL-heavy selection camp roster, some might be led to believe there's a certain amount of western favoritism at play. However, national junior team head coach Brent Sutter is quick to shoot down that notion. Sutter, who also coaches the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, said it's not a matter of him, and the coaching and scouting staff having a WHL bias. Rather, it's all about selecting the players who can best fill the roles that will help the team win.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's irrelevant where they're from," said Sutter. "Our job as a coaching staff is to bring together the 32 players we feel will give us the best chance to be successful. It just so happened to be that 21 of them are from out west."
While it may not be a surprise to see the bulk of the blue line made up of WHLers, it is surprising to see that all four netminders invited to the selection camp hail from the WHL. That means Canada's World Junior team will have a starting goaltender from the Western Hockey League for the first time since Trevor Kidd had the honors in 1992.
Devan Dubnyk of the Kamloops Blazers, who, along with Medicine Hat's Kevin Nastiuk, Prince Albert's Rejean Beauchemin and Kootenay's Jeff Glass, will vie for a goaltending spot at the selection camp, said it's a real credit to the strength of the WHL's netminding.
"Obviously, the goaltending in the Western Hockey League is incredibly strong this year," said Dubnyk. "Considering there are two great OHL goalies in (David) Shantz and (Ryan) Munce who didn't make the list, and some great goalies in the Quebec league, too, it definitely shows the Western league has come a long way in the goaltending department."
This year's edition of the junior team will be strengthened even more by the fact that there are 12 returning players from last year's team, including seven who are from out west.
Tri-City defenceman Shawn Belle is a veteran of last year's squad and is looking forward to get another chance to win the Gold medal, which has eluded Canadian clutches since 1997. Belle is impressed with the names selected for the upcoming camp and believes this year's team could be one of the most talented Canadian groups ever assembled for the World Juniors.
"The camp is going to be very intense," said Belle, a 19-year-old native of Edmonton, AB. "A lot of guys are going to try and take spots, so I'll definitely be battling with all I've got."
"It's certainly shaping up to be a very good team. There are not a lot of weaknesses, if any, that I can see. I'm really excited to see what this team can do," he added.
While many of the players on the selection camp roster - especially the veterans of last year's team - might be thinking Golden thoughts, coach Sutter reminds it's important not to look too far ahead.
"I don't like talking about Gold medals at this point in time," Sutter stated. "Our focus, as a coaching staff, and the players' focus right now is the December 12th selection camp...after that, it's game one on December 25th.
"We're going to take it one day at a time. If we're doing things right, then everything else will take care of itself," added the three-time Canada Cup winner.
Sutter may be wise in urging caution about looking too far ahead. However, with a World Junior team selection camp roster as talent-laden as this year's, it's awfully tough not to be utterly optimistic about the possibility of ending the Gold medal drought.
Jesse Watts whl.ca
-------------------------------------------------
WHL KEY PERFORMERS
Kenndal McArdle, Moose Jaw Warriors - McArdle has scored six goals and four assists in his last four outings. Netted a hat trick and an assist in win over Regina on Friday. Also netted a hat trick and two helpers in win over Prince Albert on Wednesday. Click here to view scoring leaders.
Eric Fehr, Brandon Wheat Kings - Has tallied five goals and two assists in his last four games. Scored overtime game-winner versus Medicine Hat on Sunday. Fehr leads the league with 27 goals this season. Click here to view goal leaders.
Michael Grabner, Spokane Chiefs - Grabner has scored two goals and two assists in his last four contests, also posting a plus-three rating. Is second among Chiefs rookies in scoring with 11 points. Click here for rookie scoring leaders.
Brent Seabrook, Lethbridge Hurricanes - Has three goals, one assist and a plus-two rating in his last three outings, helping the 'Canes extend their unbeaten run to 13 games. Currently sits eighth in the league in scoring among defencemen. Click here for defence leaders.
Mike Wall, Everett Silvertips - Wall is 2-0 in his last two starts, allowing only two goals on 53 shots. He currently ranks fourth in the league in GAA and save-percentage. Click here for goaltending leaders.
-------------------------------------------------
THE PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVE
Tri-City Americans rearguard Shawn Belle is a member of an exclusive club. He's one of an elite group of 1985-born defencemen, including the likes of Portland's Braydon Coburn, Red Deer's Dion Phaneuf and Lethbridge's Brent Seabrook, who have been making waves in the Western Hockey League for the last few years.
If you've ever had the pleasure of watching Belle patrol the blue line, you'll know why he's so highly regarded. The 19-year-old native of Edmonton, AB, is blessed with a combination of raw athletic ability, blinding speed, and superb on-ice vision, making him a true delight to watch.
Not only has the Dallas Stars prospect been a force for the Ams, he's also been a fixture on various Canadian national teams for years. This weekend, Belle will head to Winnipeg, MB, to take part in Hockey Canada's national junior team selection camp. A veteran of last year's Canadian World Junior team that won Silver in Helsinki, Finland, Belle will play a key role in Canada's quest to capture the World Junior Gold this Christmas in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Shawn Belle's Perspective
On who he's glad to be playing with rather than against at the WJ camp...
"There's a lot of guys on this list that can be tough to play against. Ryan Getzlaf is a guy who, on any given night, can turn a game around to his team's favor. Braydon Coburn is a great player and leader...it's no wonder he was such a high draft pick. Brent Seabrook is another guy who is a great leader...he's so patient with the puck and he doesn't make mistakes. I'm pretty happy to be playing with those three guys."
On his best moment wearing the Maple Leaf...
"There are two that stand out. Winning the World U-18 Championships in Russia in 2003 was definitely a high point in my experiences. Also, being a part of last year's World Junior team that won Silver was a great experience."
On Tri-City's future World Junior hopefuls...
"I can see Carey Price, definitely. He's a solid goaltender who's rated to go high in the NHL draft. Logan Stephenson is definitely a guy who Team Canada should look at in the future."
On what tops his Christmas wish list...
"A Gold medal at the World Juniors. We felt we shouldn't have lost (to the Americans) last year. This year, we're looking for redemption."
-------------------------------------------------
WHEAT KINGS SUPPORT "OPERATION FESTIVE SPIRITS"
Brandon, Manitoba -- The Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings in association with the Brandon Police Service and Royal Canadian Mounted Police have teamed up in an effort to attack the problem of drinking and driving his holiday season.
The program entitled "Operation Festive Spirits" will target impaired drivers throughout the holiday season, making Brandon streets as well as highways in western Manitoba as safe as possible.
"The message that the Brandon Police Service is sending to the motoring public is a simple one - 'Do the right thing, select or choose a designated driver and don't drink and drive,'" says Sgt. Leon Flannigan.
Under the program, selected sober drivers stopped will be rewarded with a "complimentary ticket" to the WHL game on Wednesday, January 5th between the Eastern Division leading Saskatoon Blades and the second place Wheat Kings.
Wheat Kings' owner Kelly McCrimmon will be donating over $5,000 in tickets for this particular promotion.
Alcohol is involved in over 50% of fatal motor vehicle accidents. Drinking and driving is both deadly and expensive.
Operation Festive Spirits is one of many community outreach programs that the hockey club is involved in this holiday season. Others include the CIBC Read to Succeed Book Drive, the Westman Traditional Christmas Dinner, the local Christmas Cheer Board and Helping Hands.
-------------------------------------------------
WHL THIS WEEK - RADIO EDITION
The 12th episode of the "The WHL This Week, Radio Edition" is now available in the downloads section of the league media site at www.whl.ca/media or by clicking on "The WHL This Week, Radio Edition" icon on the right side of the www.whl.ca homepage.
"THE WHL THIS WEEK, RADIO EDITION" is a weekly look around the Western Hockey League with host Terry Doyle. The broadcast version is a CD quality .mp3 file that is roughly 6 MB.
On this week's show, Terry talks to the goaltender Jeff Glass of the Kootenay Ice and defenceman Shea Weaber of the Kelowna Rockets on being named to Canada's 2005 National Junior Team Selection Camp which begins on December 12th, 2004 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In our feature interview, Terry talks to Greyhound WHL Player of the Week, Jeremy Colliton of the Prince Albert Raiders on his performance this past week, playing in the 2004 ADT Canada Russia Challenge for Team WHL and being named to Canada's 2005 National Junior Team Selection Camp.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2004
- Giants See Highest Attendance Increase In WHL - Vancouver Giants
- Silvertips Rookies Shining This Season - Everett Silvertips
- Dowd called up - Kamloops Blazers
- The WHL This Week, News Edition - WHL
- Slade's tenure done - Regina Pats
- Grabner Joins Austrian National Team - Spokane Chiefs
- Current & Former Pats Take Advantage of WHL's Scholarship Program - Regina Pats
- Wheaties prepare for holiday season - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Brandon Wheat Kings game notes - Brandon Wheat Kings
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.
