Three Chilliwack Chiefs are among 60 invited to a Team Canada West selection camp that will be held Dec. 5-8 in Leduc, AB.
Chiefs captain Jordan Kawaguchi and linemate Kohen Olischefski will be joined by rookie Will Calverley, trying to earn spots on the 22 man Team Canada West roster that will play in the 2016 World Junior A Challenge.
The players will compete in intrasquad games and practices, trying to impress Team Canada West head coach Barry Wolff and his assistants. Wolff, normally the bench boss of the BCHL's Coquitlam Express, is painfully aware of what Kawaguchi can do. The Abbotsford native has torched Coquitlam time and time again.
Wolff will also be familiar with Olischefski and Caverley, which should be to their advantage.
The final roster will feature players from the BCHL, AJHL (Alberta), SJHL (Saskatchewan), MJHL (Manitoba) and SIJHL (Ontario).
“Coaches from all five leagues representing Team Canada West assisted in identifying players who will make for a fast-paced, very competitive selection camp,” said Trevor Alto, director of operations for Canada West. “The focus is on competition for the 22 roster spots; however, the staff is dedicated to providing each invitee every opportunity to not only put their best foot forward, but to also enjoy the opportunity to represent Team Canada West.”
The 2016 World Junior A Challenge, which features two Canadian and four international teams, takes runs Dec. 11-17 at the R.J. Lalonde Arena, part of the Bonnyville District and Centennial Centre in Alberta.
Team Canada West will take part in pre-tournament action Dec. 9 when Team Canada West meets Team USA at the Cold Lake Energy Centre in Cold Lake, AB.
Team Canada West has won gold four times (2006, 2007, 2011 and 2015), captured a silver medal three times (2008, 2009 and 2012) and won bronze in 2013.
Since the first event in 2006, more than 260 NHL draft picks have played in the tournament.
For more information on the 2016 World Junior A Challenge, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca.