FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26,
2019
Calgary, Alta. – Hockey
Canada has invited 16 Western Hockey League players, as part of a group of 44,
to attend Canada’s national men’s under-18 team selection camp. The camp will
take place at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in
Calgary, Alta. from July 26-30th.
The players – four goaltenders, 16 defencemen and 24 forwards – will compete
for a chance to represent Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Breclav,
Czech, and Piestany, Slovakia. The breakdown of WHL players led by
first-overall 2017 WHL Draft selection Kaiden Guhle of the Prince Albert
Raiders, includes one goaltender, five defencemen and 10 forwards.
“We are excited to bring together a group of 44 athletes with a solid
foundation of junior and international experience for selection camp,”
said Shawn Bullock, director of men’s national teams for Hockey Canada.
“The under-18 camp is unlike any other, as players are being evaluated
from the moment they arrive at camp and are preparing to compete in short-term
competition. Historically, Canada has been successful at the Hlinka Gretzky
Cup, and we know all 44 players will come to camp ready to compete for a spot
on the team and the opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf in international
competition.”
One of the only true, best-on-best competitions for this age group, the Hlinka
Gretzky Cup will see Team Canada play its preliminary-round games at Ice Bors
Arena in Breclav. The event will run from Aug. 5-10, with Canada facing off
against the Czech Republic, Finland and Switzerland in preliminary play before
the tournament wraps up with the bronze and gold medal games on Aug. 10.
The team will be guided on the bench by head coach Michael Dyck (Lethbridge,
Alta. / Vancouver Giants) and assistant coach Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont.
/ Everett Silvertips). Dyck was named the head coach of the team
earlier this month when Dan Lambert stepped aside from the position after
accepting an assistant coaching role with the Nashville Predators.
Also joining Dyck and Williams are six other WHL staff members, including
management group member Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont. / Moose Jaw Warriors),
goaltending coach Adam Brown (Kelowna, B.C. / Kelowna Rockets), video
coach Andrew Doty (Calgary, Alta. / Lethbridge Hurricanes), equipment
manager Gord Cochran (Williams Lake, B.C. / Regina Pats) as well as guest
coaches Mark O’Leary (Owen Sound, Ont. / Moose Jaw Warriors) and Ryan Smith
(Winnipeg, Man. / Medicine Hat Tigers).
In 2018, the tournament was rebranded as the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and hosted in
Canada, with Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., serving as co-hosts. Canada captured
gold on home ice, defeating Sweden 6-2 in the gold medal game.
Canada has won gold 22 times in 28 years of summer under-18 competition, along
with two silver medals and one bronze.
For more information on Hockey Canada, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18
Team and the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca,
or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_Men.
WHL Players –
National Men’s Summer Under-18 Selection Camp
| Name | Position | Height | Weight | Born | Hometown | WHL Team | WHL Draft |
| Dylan Garand | Goaltender | 6’0” | 170 | 06/07/02 | Victoria, B.C. | Kamloops Blazers | KAM 2017 (3,58) |
| Tyrel Bauer | Defenceman | 6’3” | 206 | 03/23/02 | Cochrane, Alta. | Seattle Thunderbirds | SEA 2017 (2,41) |
| Kaiden Guhle | Defenceman | 6’3” | 186 | 01/18/02 | Sherwood Park, Alta. | Prince Albert Raiders | PA 2017 (1,1) |
| Daemon Hunt | Defenceman | 6’0” | 198 | 05/15/02 | Brandon, Man. | Moose Jaw Warriors | MJ 2017 (1,15) |
| Luke -Prokop | Defenceman | 6’4” | 202 | 05/06/02 | Edmonton. Alta. | Calgary Hitmen | CGY 2017 (1,7) |
| Ronan Seeley | Defenceman | 5’11” | 175 | 08/02/02 | Olds, Alta. | Everett Silvertips | EVT 2017 (1,20) |
| Jakob Brook | Forward | 6’2” | 173 | 03/15/02 | Roblin, Man. | Prince Albert Raiders | PA 2017 (2,40) |
| Kyle Crnkovic | Forward | 5’7” | 153 | 02/10/02 | Chestermere, Alta. | Saskatoon Blades | SAS 2017 (1,10) |
| Jack Finley | Forward | 6’5” | 203 | 09/02/02 | Kelowna, B.C. | Spokane Chiefs | SPO 2017 (1,6) |
| Ridly Greig | Forward | 5’11” | 155 | 08/08/02 | Lethbridge, Alta. | Brandon Wheat Kings | BDN 2017 (1,8) |
| Seth Jarvis | Forward | 5’9” | 164 | 02/01/02 | Winnipeg, Man. | Portland Winterhawks | POR 2017 (1,11) |
| Ryder Korczak | Forward | 5’9” | 157 | 09/23/02 | Yorkton, Sask. | Moose Jaw Warriors | CGY 2017 (2,29) |
| Connor McClennon | Forward | 5’8″ | 151 | 06/25/02 | Wainwright, Alta. | Winnipeg ICE | WPG 2017 (1,2) |
| Jake Neighbours | Forward | 6’0” | 196 | 03/29/02 | Airdrie, Alta. | Edmonton Oil Kings | EDM 2017 (1,4) |
| Justin Sourdif | Forward | 5’11” | 163 | 03/24/02 | Surrey, B.C. | Vancouver Giants | VAN 2017 (1,3) |
| Ozzy Wiesblatt | Forward | 5’10” | 187 | 03/09/02 | Calgary, Alta. | Prince Albert Raiders | PA 2017 (2,25) |
About the Western
Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players,
the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The
WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in
the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has
been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50
years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over
350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary
education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of
Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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