Chilliwack Bruins Steven Hodges and Brandon Magee are among 20 Western Hockey League players named to Team Pacific for the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
The tournament takes place in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, MB.
Team Pacific's 22-man roster is coached by ex-Vancouver Canucks defenceman Robert Dirk, and consists of 16-year-old players from Alberta and British Columbia. Eleven players from each province were named to the team.
“A hockey team is like a giant puzzle and though there was some very tough decisions through this process, we as an entire staff feel we have the right pieces that will fit together, both on and off the ice, that will give us the best opportunity for success at the tournament,” Dirk said of the final roster.
The Calgary Hitmen landed the most players on the team (three), with defenceman Keaton Lubin joining forwards Chase Clayton and Robert Trzonkowski.
Six teams, including the Bruins, send two players apiece.
The Red Deer Rebels send defenceman Lucas Grayson and Matt Dumba. The Prince Albert Raiders send forwards Shane Danyluk and Mike Winther. The Everett Silvertips send defenceman Nicholas Walters and forward Jari Erricson. The Saskatoon Blades send forwards Levi Bews and Ryan olsen and the Prince George Cougars send defenceman Joshua Smith and forward Troy Bourke.
The roster is rounded out by Morgan Reilly (defenceman, Moose Jaw Warriors), Griffin Reinhart (defenceman, Edmonton Oil Kings), Matt Bellerive (forward, Vancouver Giants), Justin Hickman (forward, Seattle Thunderbirds) and Hunter Shinkaruk (forward, Medicine Hat Tigers).
Teams without anyone on the roster are Kamloops, Kelowna, Spokane, Tri-City, Portland, Kootenay, Lethbridge, Brandon and Regina.
The two players on the team who aren't in the WHL this season are former bantam draft picks Devon Fordyce (UFA Bisons, AMJHL) and Mackenzie Skapski (Ridge Meadows Flames, PIJHL).