KITCHENER, ON – Forty of Canada’s top eligible players for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft are currently taking part in Canada’s Under-18 Selection Camp in preparation for the 2005 Under-18 Junior World Cup. This year’s tournament is taking place in Czech Republic from August 9 - 14, 2005. Canada’s first game is August 9 versus Switzerland.
Canada’s Under-18 camp began on July 30th and will run until August 4th, at which time the final roster that will represent Canada in the Czech Republic will be announced.
The roster announcement will take place at 10:00 am ET in Kitchener, ON on Thursday, August 4th and interviews will be conducted on site as well as by phone. For all media inquiries, please contact Mathieu Litalien at (403) 703-8791.
Practices for Canada’s Under 18 camp this week are held daily between 9am-12pm ET at the Kitchener Auditorium and intersquad games take place between 5pm-8pm ET. All practices and games are open to the public free of charge.
Blair Mackasey, Hockey Canada’s Director of player personnel also announced on Monday that forward Chris Culligan and defenceman James DeLory have been called in as replacements for forward Kyle Bortis and defenceman Maxime Fréchette. Bortis has being diagnosed with mononucleosis and Frechette has an on-going injury that was reaggrevated during the camp this week.
Culligan, a member of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles had 10 goals and 29 points in his rookie season and his seven power-play goals tied for third on the team. DeLory was a mainstay on the Oshawa Generals (OHL) blueline during the 2004-05 season. The rookie defenceman tallied five points and 82 PIMs in 61 games.