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WHL Sends 12 Players to Canada's National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp

June 19, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League is proud to announce today 12 WHL players have been invited to Hockey Canada's National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp July 27 to Aug. 4 in Plymouth, Mich.

The group of WHL talent is led by WHL and Canadian Hockey League Defenceman of the Year Ty Smith (New Jersey Devils) of the Spokane Chiefs and features six forwards and five defencemen. Defencemen Calen Addison (Pittsburgh Penguins) of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Jett Woo (Vancouver Canucks) of the Calgary Hitmen, as well as forward Cole Fonstad (Montreal Canadiens) of the WHL Champion Prince Albert Raiders represent the three other players already selected in the NHL Draft.

Seven WHL players attending the camp are eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, set to be held June 21-22 at Rogers Place in Vancouver, B.C. Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants is ranked second among North American skaters according to NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings and is the CHL's top-ranked prospect in addition to earning an invitation to the camp.

Kirby Dach of the Saskatoon Blades, Dylan Cozens of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and Peyton Krebs of the Winnipeg ICE, ranked within the top 10 skaters in North America, also earned camp invitations. Nolan Foote of the Kelowna Rockets, ranked 37th among North American skaters, and Luka Burzan of the Brandon Wheat Kings, ranked 126th, will be attending the camp. Calgary Hitmen forward Carson Focht is also eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft.

Two of the 43 players invited to the camp are eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft in Montreal, Que., with Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Braden Schneider occupying one of those slots. The Prince Albert, Sask. product has represented Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and IIHF Under-18 World Championship.

The Wheat Kings and Hitmen lead the WHL contingent with each boasting a pair of players invited to the camp. Eight other WHL member Clubs are represented by a single player. The WHL will also be represented on the team staff by assistant coach Mitch Love, head coach of the Blades.

WHL Invitees - Canada's National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp

H W DOB Hometown WHL Club NHL

Defence

Calen Addison 5'10" 180 4/11/2000 Brandon, Man. Lethbridge Hurricanes PIT '18 (2-53)

Bowen Byram 6'1" 192 6/13/2001 Cranbrook, B.C. Vancouver Giants Eligible 2019

Braden Schneider 6'2" 210 9/20/2001 Prince Albert, Sask. Brandon Wheat Kings Eligible 2020

Ty Smith 5'11" 177 3/24/2000 Lloydminster, Alta. Spokane Chiefs NJ '18 (1-17)

Jett Woo 6'0" 203 7/27/2000 Winnipeg, Man. Calgary Hitmen VAN '18 (2-37)

Forwards

Luka Burzan 6'1" 190 1/7/2000 Surrey, B.C. Brandon Wheat Kings Eligible 2019

Dylan Cozens 6'3" 185 2/9/2001 Whitehorse, Yukon Lethbridge Hurricanes Eligible 2019

Kirby Dach 6'4" 195 1/21/2001 Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. Saskatoon Blades Eligible 2019

Carson Focht 6'0" 177 2/4/2000 Regina, Sask. Calgary Hitmen Eligible 2019

Cole Fonstad 5'10 165 4/24/2000 Estevan, Sask. Prince Albert Raiders MTL '18 (5-128)

Nolan Foote 6'3" 188 11/29/2000 Kelowna, B.C. Kelowna Rockets Eligible 2019

Peyton Krebs 5'11" 180 1/26/2001 Okotoks, Alta. Winnipeg ICE Eligible 2019

The five goaltenders, 13 defencemen and 25 forwards will be split into two teams - Red and White. The Canadians will play four games in Plymouth, taking on the United States twice in addition to singles against Finland and Sweden.

Brad McEwen, head scout for the Program of Excellence, and POE management group member Mark Hunter put the roster together, and will continue to monitor the athletes through the start of the 2019-20 season ahead of Canada's National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp and the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.

"We're very pleased with the group that will be brought together in Plymouth," said Shawn Bullock, director of men's national teams. "This is a development opportunity for some of the younger athletes, and it's a great opportunity for our coaching staff and players to start developing solid relationship ahead of the World Juniors."

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_Men.

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