Ten AJHL Players invited to WJAC Evaluation Camp in Okotoks
September 24, 2009
Okotoks, AB, September 24th, 2009 – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced today the 40 players invited to attend an Evaluation Camp for Team Canada West in preparation for the 2009 World Junior A Challenge. The Okotoks Oilers and Alberta Junior Hockey League will host the three-day evaluation camp at the Centennial Arena in Okotoks, Alberta from September 27th – 29th, 2009.
The top 40 players from the five western leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League have been invited to participate in the evaluation camp for an opportunity to earn a position on the Team Canada West roster. Team Canada West will include the top 22 players from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).
The BCHL will be represented by 13 players at the upcoming camp, while the AJHL has 10 representatives, the MJHL will have 8 participants, 7 SJHL players and 2 SIJHL players round out the 40 man roster.
WJAC – Team Canada West Camp – Team Red Roster
WJAC – Team Canada West Camp – Team White Roster
“We are excited to have the roster selected for the camp in Okotoks and are looking forward to finally having them on the ice as a group,” said Team Canada West General Manager Leonard Strandberg. “I am thankful for the diligence of our staff and the effort they provided in the selection process in what is a very busy time for them. We are also excited to working with the organizing committee in Okotoks and thank them for stepping forward to host the camp. We would like to welcome Coach Dan MacDonald, Assistant Coach Chris Fuss and the Oilers training staff as they assist us with the camp as well.”
Camp Agenda
Monday, September 28th
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM Team Red practice
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM Team White practice
7:15 PM Game Team Red vs Team White
Tuesday, September 29th
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM Team White practice
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM Team Red practice
7:15 PM Game Team White vs Team Red
Game Tickets are available at the Oilers Box Office inside the Okotoks Centennial Arena. Tickets for Adults and Seniors $10.00, Students and Children $5.00, and children under 8 are free.
Team Canada West General Manager Leonard Strandberg will return as the General Manager of Team Canada West for the second consecutive year. Rylan Ferster of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks, who was an Assistant Coach in 2008, now assumes the position of Head Coach for Canada West. Jomar Cruz is the Video Coach for Team West, while Larry Wintoneak (Kindersley Klippers, SJHL) and Barry Butler (Waywayseecappo Wolverines, MJHL) join the team as Assistant Coaches.
In August, Team Canada East held multiple evaluation camps for the five eastern CJHL leagues. Over 155 players participated in evaluation camps in Renfrew, Ontario (CJHL, NOJHL and LHJAAAQ players), Richmond Hill, Ontario (OJHL players), and a final camp in Halifax, NB (MJAHL players).
The final rosters for Team Canada East and Team Canada West will be announced in mid-October. Summerside, P.E.I. will host the 2009 World Junior A Challenge from November 1st – 8th, 2009 at Credit Union Centre. The 2009 World Junior A Challenge will follow the same format as previous years – two Canadian entries will be joined by four international teams from Russia, Belarus, Sweden and the defending champion Team USA.
For more information on the 2009 World Junior A Challenge, visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wjac or www.cjhlhockey.com.
For More Information:
Leonard Strandberg
General Manager
Team Canada West
(306) 921-7022 Phone
strandl@sasktel.net
Craig T. Cripps
President
Alberta Junior Hockey League
(403) 262-9636 Office
(403) 607-4858 Cell
president@ajhl.ca
Wayne Lauinger
President
Okotoks Oilers Hockey Club
(403) 969-5209 Cell
info@okotokslodge.com
