The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), announced on Wednesday the 25 players that will attend the Team Canada West pre-tournament camp prior to the 2008 World Junior A Challenge. Canada West will release three players before the start of the tournament, which runs from November 2-9 in Camrose, AB, to get its roster down to the 22-player maximum. Canada West is the two-time defending gold medalist at the World Junior A Challenge, having scored gold medal game victories over Canada East in 2006 in Yorkton, SK and in 2007 in Trail, BC. The Canada West roster is comprised of players from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL). ÒThe players that we have selected for Team Canada West are the ones that we feel will give us the best opportunity to win a third consecutive gold medal,Ó said head coach Boris Rybalka. ÒThere are so many good players in the West, which made the selection process very difficult. ÒWe are excited to have narrowed the list down to the group of players who we feel will best represent our team in the 2008 World Junior A Challenge.Ó ÒIt brings me great pleasure to be able to announce the complete roster for Team Canada West,Ó said general manager Leonard Strandberg on Wednesday. ÒThe coaching staff has done a tremendous amount of scouting, and paid very close attention to the players we have in western Canada. We are very confident that we have selected the best available players from this region to represent Team Canada West.Ó The selection process for Canada West involved extensive scouting by Rybalka, Strandberg and assistant coaches Rylan Ferster and Dwight McMillan, and included, for the first time, evaluation camps, with a camp held in Yorkton, SK for SJHL, MJHL and SIJHL hopefuls, and one in Sherwood Park, AB for AJHL talent. Canada WestÕs pre-tournament camp roster for the 2008 World Junior A Challenge includes: Three goaltenders, eight defensemen and 14 forwards Four players currently leading their teams in scoring (Derek Grant Ð Langley, Matt Mackay Ð Calgary Canucks, Justin Schultz Ð Westside, Rylan Schwartz Ð Notre Dame) One player currently leading their league in scoring (Rylan Schwartz Ð SJHL) Three players returning from the 2007 World Junior A Challenge (Tommy Brown, Andrew MacWilliam, Steven Seigo) Three players selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (Justin Schultz Ð Anaheim, 2nd round, 43rd overall; Derek Grant Ð Ottawa, 4th round, 119th overall; Andrew MacWilliam Ð Toronto, 7th round, 188th overall) Nine players from the BCHL, seven players from the AJHL, six players from the SJHL, two players from the MJHL and one player from the SIJHL Canada West will play in Group A at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge, joined by Belarus and Russia, while Canada East, Germany and the United States will comprise Group B. Round-robin play will run until Thursday, November 6, with both semifinals taking place on Saturday, November 8. The gold medal game, which will be shown nationally on TSN, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada, is set for Sunday, November 9. The roster for Canada East will be announced later this week. The international rosters will be announced next week. The following is the roster for Team Canada West of 25 players: Goaltenders Aaron Dell - Calgary Canucks Andrew Bodnsrchuk - Humboldt Broncos Kevin Genoe - Prince George Spruce Kings Defence Scott Macaulay - Winnipeg Saints Justin Schultz - Westside Warriors Andew MacWilliam - Camrose Kodiaks Tommy Brown - Melfort Mustangs Dylan Olsen - Camrose Kodiaks Matt Grassi - Salmon Arm Silverbacks Michael Young - Flin Flon Bombers Steven Seigo - Bonnyville Pontiacs Forwards James Kerr - Alberni Valley Bulldogs Matt Mackay - Calgary Canucks Denver Manderson - Pentiction Vees Tim Hayduk - Winnipeg Saints Cole Wilson - Flin Flon Bombers Derek Grant - Langley Chiefs Michael MacDonald - Ft. William North Stars Derek Rodwell - Okotos Oilers Tanner Fritz - Grande Prairie Storm Curtis McKenzie - Penticton Vees Travis Statchuk - Salmon Arm Silverbacks Brodie Reid - Burnaby Express Rylan Schwartz - Notre Dame Hounds Jaden Schwartz - Notre Dame Hounds Coaches Boris Rybalka - Camrose Kodiaks Dwight McMillan (assistant) - Weyburn Red Wings Rylan Ferster (assistant) - Salmon Arm Silverbacks
