Hockey Canada officially announced today the list of 37 junior-aged players (born in 1988 or later) who have been invited to take part in Canada's National Junior Selection Camp and included in that list is Niagara IceDogs Forward Stefan Legein. The camp will run from December 10 – 14, 2007 and will take place at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary, AB.
Legein is not a stranger to the Hockey Canada program after being invited to take part in the Canada-Russia Super Series this past Summer. Despite battling a number of injuries to this point in the season, Stefan has continued to average over a point-per-game with 17 goals and 11 assists for 28 points in 22 games played at this point in the season. He enjoyed a break out year last season in compiling 43 goals and 75 assists.
Hockey Canada may add additional players prior to the opening of the selection camp on December 10th, in the event that any NHL teams loan Canada's National Junior Team junior-aged eligible players currently playing in the NHL.
“Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence, which includes our Under-17 and Under-18 Programs, has provided many of these players the preparation and experience for to deal with the rigors of the upcoming World Juniors and high paced international competition,” said Al Murray, Head Scout for Canada's National Men's Teams. “The quality and skill of the 37 players invited to the camp next week is a testament of the hard work, commitment and development of all those involved in the Canadian minor hockey and junior hockey system.”
Murray traveled coast to coast during the first part of the hockey season assessing players in preparation of the Selection Camp.
Team Canada Final Selection Camp Roster
Goaltenders
Jonathan Bernier, Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL)
Leland Irving, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Steve Mason, London Knights (OHL)
Tyson Sexsmith, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Defencemen
Karl Alzner, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Andrew Bodnarchuk, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Drew Doughty, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Keaton Ellerby, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Josh Godfrey, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Thomas Hickey, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Kevin Marshall, Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL)
Logan Pyett, Regina Pats (WHL)
Luke Schenn, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Brendan Smith, Wisconsin (WCHA)
P.K. Subban, Belleville Bulls (OHL)
Ty Wishart, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Forwards
Zach Boychuk, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Cory Emmerton, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Angelo Esposito, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Colton Gillies, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Claude Giroux, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Matt Halischuk, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Zach Hamill, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Riley Holzapfel, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Stefan Legein, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Brett MacLean, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Brad Marchand, Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
Shawn Matthias, Belleville Bulls (OHL)
Mathieu Perreault, Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
Wayne Simmonds, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Nick Spaling, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Brandon Sutter, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
John Tavares, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Kyle Turris, Burnaby (BCHL)
Dana Tyrell, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Ryan White, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Head Coach – Craig Hartsburg, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Assistant Coaches – Clement Jodoin, Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL); Curtis Hunt, Regina Pats (WHL)
SELECTION CAMP INFORMATION Players and staff will travel to Calgary on Monday, December 10th, and will take to the ice that same evening at the Father David Bauer Olympic Area in Calgary (view the full schedule at www.hockeycanada.ca ).
All practices at the Selection Camp, Dec. 10-14th are open to the public free of charge. Details on the selection camp will be announced next week at www.hockeycanada.ca.
Canada will play its first game of the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26th versus the Czech Republic at 2:00pm ET, a game that will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on the FAN radio network (check local listings).
Canada has medaled in nine straight World Junior Championships including: gold medal performances in 2007, 2006 and 2005, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 and bronze medals in 2001 and 2000.
