IceDogs defenceman Dougie Hamilton has been named to Canada's U18 Summer Selection Camp, which runs from July 31-August 3 at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary, home of Canada’s national teams.

Hamilton was one of 14 defencemen along with 24 forwards named to the camp. Four goaltenders will be added to the camp roster following the June 17-20 Program of Excellence goaltending camp in Calgary, where five U18-eligible goaltenders will be in attendance along with nine U20-eligible goaltenders, including IceDogs goaltender Mark Visentin.

The camp roster includes 15 skaters from the Ontario Hockey League, 12 skaters from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, 10 from the Western Hockey League and one from the Central Canadian Hockey League (Junior A).

In total, 36 of those 38 skaters (14 defencemen and 22 forwards), including Hamilton, competed at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge including 13 OHL players on the silver medal winning Team Ontario.

The players, born in 1993, were selected by Hockey Canada head scout Al Murray, in consultation with head coach George Burnett (Port Perry, Ont./Belleville Bulls, OHL) and assistant coaches Ron Choules (Montreal, Que./Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL) and Jim Hiller (Nelson, B.C./Tri-City Americans, WHL). Murray evaluated these players over the course of the 2009-10 season, following them along with numerous other candidates for the program during league play, as well as during the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge held from December 29-January 4 in Timmins, Ont.

“The upcoming National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp will be competitive and exciting,” Murray said. “These players represent the future of Canadian hockey and are a testament to the strength of the Canadian Hockey League and the skill development taking place in minor hockey across the country.”

Of the 43 players who have been identified for the selection camp, 22 skaters and two goaltenders will be selected for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team that will play in the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, scheduled for August 10-14 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The entire IceDogs organization would like to congratulate Dougie on his selection to the camp and wish him the best of luck at the camp.