CALGARY, Alta. – The rosters for Team Canada East and Team Canada West are set for the 2017 World Junior A Challenge in Truro, N.S., Dec. 10-16.
The Central Canada Hockey League is very happy to announce the following participants from the CCHL that will be going to the represent Team Canada East.
Ottawa Junior Senators, head coach Martin Dagenais will be an assistant coach for team Canada East at this year’s tournament. The Embrun, Ontario native has brought the Jr. Sens to back to back Bogart Cup appearances, losing to Carleton Place in both. He and his club will be hosting the Fred Page Cup this season. Over four seasons with Ottawa, Dagenais holds a record of 151-52.
“It’s always an honour to be able to represent your country. As a proud Canadian, I’m obviously very excited” said Martin Dagenais.
Five CCHL players were selected to represent Team Canada East at the tournament. Four from the Carleton Place Canadians and one from the Ottawa Jr. Senators.
Carleton Place Canadians – forward Zach Tupker and defensemen’s Cade Townend, Tim Theochardidis and Aiden Girduckis have been named to the roster. Ottawa Jr. Senators, forward Finn Evans is the only other representative.
“The five CCHL players that were selected to the team should be proud of themselves. All five of them have the potential to be impact players for us. They certainly earned their spot on the team” said Dagenais.
Tupker, 18, currently has 16 points (12G/4A) in 34 games this season. The Cornell University NCAA D-1 commit has 6 goals in his last 7 games.
Townend, 18, has 13 points in 34 games and is un-committed.
Theochardidis, 19, is second among defenseman in points with 32 points in 34 games. The Bowling Green University commit has also leads all D-man in assists with 24.
Girduckis, 19, has 20 points in 30 games and is expected to attend Robert Morris NCAA D-1 University next season.
Evans, 18, has 10 points in 12 games since being acquired by Ottawa at the beginning of November. The Princeton NCAA D-1 commit will be playing alongside Girduckis and Theochardidis for the second straight season.
Of the 22 players selected to represent Team Canada East following a four-day selection camp in Etobicoke, Ont., which wrapped up Tuesday, five (Evans, Girduckis, Johnston, McBain, Theocharidis) were part of last year’s team that captured silver.
Team Canada East will open this year’s tournament against Russia in prime time on Sunday, Dec. 10, when the World Junior A Challenge returns to Atlantic Canada this December. Team Canada West will open its tournament against the Czech Republic at 3:30 p.m. AT on Dec. 10.
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