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Calgary Hitmen

Yakemchuk Named to Canada's National Men's U-18 Team Roster

April 15, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


Calgary, AB - Hockey Canada announced today that defenceman Carter Yakemchuk has been selected for Canada's National Men's under-18 team for the 2023 IIHF World Championship. The tournament takes place from April 20-30 in Basel and Porrentruy, Switzerland.

The roster, which includes three goaltenders, seven defencemen and 12 forwards, was selected by Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), senior manager of hockey operations, with support from Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of hockey operations. Head coach Jeff Truitt (Rosetown, Sask./Prince Albert, WHL) and assistant coaches John Dean (Don Mills, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL) and Bruce Richardson (Montréal, Que./Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL), as well as goaltending consultant Justin Pogge (Penticton, B.C./Wolfsburg, DEL), also provided input.

"We are excited to unveil the 22 players who will wear the Maple Leaf at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship, as we believe this group brings a lot of talent and experience from the Canadian Hockey League and international competition," Millar said. "We know this group is excited for the opportunity to compete for a gold medal represent Canada with pride in Switzerland."

Carter Yakemchuk joined the Hitmen after being drafted by Calgary in the third round (65th overall) in the 2020 WHL Prospects draft. A breakout season for the 17-year-old, Yakemchuk finished the 2022-23 campaign with 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points, earning him a place on the WHL Central Division Second All-Star Team. The numbers put up by the defenceman in the second half of the season secured him third in defenceman scoring in the WHL with 19 goals, and first in power play goals amongst defenceman with 15.The 19 goals scored by Yakemchuk is the most by a Hitmen defenceman since Jake Bean set a franchise record with 24 in the 2015-16 season.

Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team will practice at the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich, Switzerland, April 12-16, prior to the start of the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship. It will also face off against Finland on April 16 at the Sportzentrum Heuried in Zurich and Switzerland on April 17 at St. Jakob Arena in Basel as part of its pre-tournament schedule.

Canada opens the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship against Sweden on April 20 at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. It will also take on Germany on April 21, Slovakia on April 23 and Czechia on April 24 to round out the preliminary round before the tournament wraps up with the bronze and gold medal games on April 30. TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada's official broadcast partners, will broadcast select tournament games, including all Team Canada games. Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), in addition to one silver (2005) and three bronze (2012, 2014, 2015).

For more information on the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship, please visit the official tournament website at 2023.U18worlds.hockey.

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