Daily Herald Staff
The Prince Albert Raiders will be well represented when Hockey Canada begins its National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp on July 29 in Oakville, Ont.
Defenceman Daxon Rudolph and forward Riley Boychuk were among the 119 players invited to the four day camp. Rudolph is one of six players from last year’s gold medal winning team to receive an invite.
“Our under-18 selection camp provides us with an opportunity to evaluate players and select a roster that we believe will give us the best chance to defend our gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” Program of Excellence GM Alan Millar said in a press release. “Our under-17 camp is an opportunity to introduce athletes to the Program of Excellence and allow them to compete against other top players in Canada while we begin evaluating and preparing for the U17 World Challenge this fall.”
Canada will carry 40 players on their roster for the U18 Tournament, which runs from Aug. 11-16 in Brno, Czechia and Trencin, Slovakia.
Following the selection camp, the team will practice in Szekesfehervar, Hungary from Aug. 3-6 before exhibition games against the Hungary U20 team on Aug. 7 and the Slovakia on Aug. 9. Canada opens the preliminary round against Finland on Aug. 11.
Other players invited to the selection camp include Giorgos Pantelas and Jaxon Jacobson of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Liam and Markus Ruck of the Medicine Hat Tigers, and Cooper Williams of the Saskatoon Blades.
Canada also announced the roster for their U17 development camp. Recent WHL first overall pick Maddox Schultz headlines the list of 79 players who received invites. The camp will run from July 19-23 in Oakville. The 2025 U17 World Challenge is scheduled for Oct. 31 to Nov. 8 in Truno, Nova Scotia.
Prince Albert Raiders head coach Ryan McDonald will serve as the head coach of Canada Red at the U17 World Challenge. Mathieu Gravel (Drummondville – QMJHL), Brendan Taylor (Sault Ste. Marie – OHL), Jeff Harvey (Saskatoon – WHL) and Enrick Corneau (Chicoutimi – QMJHL) will round out the coaching staff.
“We are thrilled with the coaching staff we have assembled from across the CHL to help introduce our players to the program,” Millar said. “They all bring a unique skill set and are committed to the development of players on and off the ice, which we know will help set a strong foundation for future success within our program.”
Former Prince Albert Raider Kyle Chipchura will also be behind the bench at the U17 World Challenge. He’ll serve as an assistant with head coach Scott Barney on Canada White.
sports@paherald.sk.ca
