CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has invited 112 players to Calgary to participate in Canada’s national under-17 development camp, taking place July 19-26 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park.
During the week-long camp, the players - 12 goaltenders, 36 defencemen and 64 forwards - will be split into six teams for on- and off-ice training, fitness testing, intrasquad games and classroom studies.
Brad McEwen (Whitewood, Sask.), head scout for the Program of Excellence, and POE management group representative Martin Mondou (Grand-Mére, Que./Shawinigan, QMJHL) built the roster with assistance from regional scouts Carl Bouchard (Quebec), Rob Simpson (Ontario), Jason Smart (West), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic), Shaun Sutter (West) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario).
“The national under-17 development camp is the first step these athletes take in their Team Canada career,” said Shawn Bullock, director of men’s national teams. “Ultimately, these players will learn what it takes to wear the Maple Leaf in international competition. We are here to support their development by providing the on- and off-ice experiences they need to achieve the dream of representing their country.”
Following camp, players will be monitored through the early weeks of the 2019-20 season before 66 are named to one of three Canadian teams - Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White - competing at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scheduled for Nov. 2-9 in Medicine Hat, Alta., and Swift Current, Sask.
For the second year in a row, all 112 players have been drafted by Canadian Hockey League teams, including 46 from the Ontario Hockey League, 41 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and 25 from the Western Hockey League.
Media accreditation for the Team Canada Summer Showcase, which includes Canada’s national under-17 development camp, can be requested online. The full camp schedule is available on HockeyCanada.ca.
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.