Chrystopher Collin has been named to the 60-man Team Canada West selection camp roster for this year’s World Junior A Challenge (WJAC).
The 18-year-old forward currently leads the Bombers with 14 goals and 22 points in 23 games. Collin also holds the SJHL rookie goal scoring lead and is second in total rookie scoring.
“There’s not many 18-year-olds that average a point a game, let alone score 14 goals in their first 23 games. He’s on pace to be a 30-goal man,” said Mike Reagan, head coach and GM of the Bombers.
“When you look at the last guys to do that for us – Alex Smith, Joel Kocur, Brandon Switzer – those guys were all 20 years old.”
Collin is the only member of the 60-man roster to hail from Quebec. Despite being born in an Eastern province, playing in a Western Canadian league makes him eligible for Team Canada West.
A number of current NHL players and top prospects have suited up for Team Canada West, including Jaden Schwartz, Kyle Turris, Cale Makar, Tyson Jost, Dante Fabbro and Colton Parayko.
Two former Bomber players, forward Brandon Lesko and defenseman Cory Thomas, played on last year’s Team Canada West. Another former Bomber, Cole Wilson, played for the team in 2008.
“He’s got just as good a shot as any other guy there,” said Reagan of Collin. “We wouldn’t bring him to the camp if we didn’t think he had a shot of making the team.”
