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Byram and Krebs off to Canada’s U18 camp
Cranbrook’s Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants) and Kootenay ICE forward Peyton Krebs are among eight Western Hockey League (WHL) players named to Hockey Canada’s 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship team training camp.
The camp will take place next week in Etobicoke, Ont. before players and staff fly to Russia for two pre-tournament games. The tournament itself will run between Apr. 19-29 in Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk, Russia.
WHL players invited to participate in the training camp include goaltender Nolan Maier (Yorkton, Sask./Saskatoon Blades), defencemen Bowen Byram (Cranbrook, B.C./Vancouver Giants), Matthew Robertson (Sherwood Park, Alta./Edmonton Oil Kings), and Ty Smith (Lloydminster, Alta./Spokane Chiefs), as well as forwards Kirby Dach (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta./Saskatoon Blades), Cole Fonstad (Estevan, Sask./Prince Albert Raiders), Peyton Krebs (Okotoks, Alta./Kootenay ICE) and Chase Wouters (Lloydminster, Sask./Saskatoon Blades).
“The initial list of Canadians for the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship contains a well-balanced group of players and strong foundation of international experience,” said Brad McEwen, Hockey Canada’s head scout. “Fans can expect a combination of skill, size, and speed when this year’s team begins its quest to bring home a gold medal in Russia. The players and team staff are excited for the opportunity to once again represent Canada on the world stage.”
On April 10 the team will depart for Russia to continue its training camp and play two pre-tournament games in Chelyabinsk – April 15 versus Slovakia and April 16 vs. Finland.
Hockey Canada announced the coaching staff for the tournament in March, with Kamloops Blazers head coach Don Hay selected to lead the team behind the bench. Joining Hay on Team Canada’s staff will be goaltending consultant Jason LaBarbera (Calgary Hitmen), team physician Dr. Ed Berdusco (Edmonton Oil Kings), athletic therapist Brian Cheeseman (Edmonton Oil Kings), and education consultant Vic Bifano (Kamloops Blazers).
At last year’s tournament, Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Calgary, Alta./Spokane Chiefs) captained the team while Stelio Mattheos (Winnipeg, Man./Brandon Wheat Kings) served as an alternate.
Canada will look to reclaim gold for the first time since 2013, kicking off the tournament against its cross-border rival United States on Thursday, April 19 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Canada will also play against Belarus, Switzerland, and Sweden during the preliminary round. TSN, the official broadcast partner of Hockey Canada, is broadcasting 15 games, including all of
Team Canada’s match-ups at the IIHF U18 World Championship. RDS will broadcast 10 games, including Canada’s four preliminary-round games, two quarter-final games, both semifinals, and the bronze- and gold-medal games.
Canada has won seven medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship, including three gold (2003, 2008, 2013), one silver (2005), and three bronze (2012, 2014, 2015).
Lead image: Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants, Peyton Krebs of the Kootenay ICE and Nolan Maier of the Saskatoon Blades. WHL image
Hockey Canada
