WHL Spokane Chiefs

Tokarski and Spurgeon to Attend Selection Camp

Published on December 3, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


OTTAWA, ON - Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Wednesday that Chief's goaltender Dustin Tokarski and defenseman Jared Spurgeon are among 38 of Canada's best junior-aged hockey players (born in 1989 or later) to have been invited to take part in Canada's National Junior Selection Camp from December 11-15, 2008 in Ottawa, ON at the SBP Arena and the Robert-Guertin Arena.

Of the 38 players invited, four won gold medals at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Thirty-one of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including thirteen 1st round selections and eight 2nd round selections. Tokarski and Spurgeon are two that won the 2008 Memorial Cup with the Chiefs.

Hockey Canada may add additional players prior to the opening of the selection camp on December 11th, in the event that any NHL teams loan Canada's National Junior Team junior-aged eligible players currently playing in the NHL.

"On behalf of Hockey Canada, I would like to congratulate the players named today, along with their club teams, their parents and all the minor hockey coaches and officials who helped them along with the way," said Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada's senior director of men's national teams. "I would also like to make special note of the great partnership that Hockey Canada has with the Canadian Hockey League, which is essential to the success of the Program of Excellence."

"Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence, which includes our Under-17 and Under-18 Programs, has provided many of these players with the preparation and experience for to deal with the rigors of the upcoming World Juniors and high paced international competition," said Al Murray, Head Scout for Canada's National Men's Teams. "The quality and skill of the 38 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."

Murray traveled coast to coast during the first part of the hockey season assessing players in preparation of the Selection Camp.

SELECTION CAMP INFORMATION Players and staff will travel to Ottawa on Thursday, December 11th, and will take to the ice that same evening at the SBP Arena in Ottawa (view the full game schedule at www.hockeycanada.ca). Tokarski and Spurgeon will miss the Chiefs games on December 12th and 13th against Seattle and on December 16th versus Medicine Hat. Their schedule after the WHL's holiday break will be based on if they make Team Canada's final cuts.

Intersquad game schedule (All games to be played at 6pm EST)

Friday, December 12 Red vs. White Intersquad Game

Saturday, December 13 Red vs, White Intersquad Game

Sunday, December 14 Game to be confirmed

Canada will play its first game of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th versus the Czech Republic.

Canada has medaled in ten straight World Junior Championships including gold medal performances in 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.

GOALTENDERS HT WT Born 2008-09 Team

Jake Allen 6'1" 180 08/07/90 Montreal (QMJHL)

Chet Pickard 6'1" 216 11/29/89 Tri-City (WHL)

Tyson Sexsmith 5'11" 211 03/19/89 Vancouver (WHL)

Dustin Tokarski 5'11" 189 09/16/89 Spokane (WHL)

DEFENSE

Keith Aulie 6'6" 215 06/11/89 Brandon (WHL)

Tyler Cuma 6'1.5" 189 01/19/90 Ottawa (OHL)

Ryan Ellis 5'9.5" 176 01/03/91 Windsor (OHL)

Cody Goloubef 6'1" 194 11/30/89 Wisconsin (WCHA)

Travis Hamonic 6'0" 202 08/16/90 Moose Jaw (WHL)

Thomas Hickey 5'11" 194 02/08/89 Seattle (WHL)

Kevin Marshall 6'0" 203 03/10/89 Quebec (QMJHL)

Tyler Myers 6'7.5" 213 02/01/90 Kelowna (WHL)

Alex Pietrangelo 6'2.5" 204 01/18/90 Niagara (OHL)

Brendan Smith 6'1.5" 181 02/08/89 Wisconsin (WCHA)

Jared Spurgeon 5'8" 167 11/29/89 Spokane (WHL)

PK Subban 5'11" 206 05/13/89 Belleville (OHL)

Colten Teubert 6'3" 189 03/08/90 Regina (WHL)

Patrick Wiercioch 6'4" 185 09/12/90 Denver (WCHA)

FORWARD

Jamie Arniel 5'10.5" 183 11/16/89 Sarnia (OHL)

Jamie Benn 6'1.5" 202 07/18/89 Kelowna (WHL)

Zach Boychuk 5'10" 175 10/04/89 Lethbridge (WHL)

Matt Calvert 5'10" 175 12/24/89 Brandon (WHL)

Patrice Cormier 6'1.5" 201 06/14/90 Rimouski (QMJHL)

Stefan Della Rovere 5'11" 200 02/25/90 Barrie (OHL)

Chris DiDomenico 5'11" 170 02/20/89 Saint John (QMJHL)

Matt Duchene 5'11" 201 01/16/91 Brampton (OHL)

Jordan Eberle 5'10" 181 05/15/90 Regina (WHL)

Tyler Ennis 5'8" 165 10/06/89 Medicine Hat (WHL)

Angelo Esposito 6'1" 180 02/20/89 Montreal (QMJHL)

Taylor Hall 6'0" 181 11/14/91 Windsor (OHL)

Cody Hodgson 5'11" 189 02/18/90 Brampton (OHL)

Nazem Kadri 5'11" 174 10/06/90 London (OHL)

Evander Kane 6'1" 180 08/02/91 Vancouver (WHL)

Riley Nash 6'0" 176 05/09/89 Cornell (ECAC)

Brayden Schenn 6'0" 199 08/22/91 Brandon (WHL)

Brett Sonne 6'0" 187 05/16/89 Calgary (WHL)

John Tavares 6'0" 203 09/20/90 Oshawa (OHL)

Dana Tyrell 5'9.5" 182 04/23/89 Prince George (WHL)

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