Sixteen WHLers on Canada’s WJC preliminary roster

By Brendan Macgranachan
Sixteen Western Hockey League players, including eight defenseman, were invited to the Canadian National Junior Team Selection Camp. The seven day selection camp will run from December 11-18 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ontario. Twenty-two of the 34 players invited to the Camp, which includes 16 from the WHL, 10 from the Ontario Hockey League, 7 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and 1 NCAA player, will stick on the final Canadian Roster for the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki and Hameenlisa, Finland, which will run from December 26th, 2003 to January 5th, 2004.

Of those thirty-four going to Kitchener, only two are returnees from last year’s silver medal in Halifax, Nova Scotia. One of the two is Swift Current Bronco defenseman Ian White. White was questionable for the camp because of a broken ankle which kept him out of action for a few months but should be ready to go once camp gets under way. The other returnee is Daniel Paillé of the Guelph Storm (OHL).

The WHL will have two goaltenders at camp. Regina Pat goalie Josh Harding will be there along with Red Deer Rebel and Carolina Hurricane first rounder Cam Ward, who had a sub par camp last year and was sent back. Both goaltenders participated on the WHL team in the ReMax Canada/Russia Challenge.

Of the eight defenseman representing the WHL at camp, three of those where 2003 first rounders. Portland’s Braydon Coburn (8th overall, Atlanta), Red Deer’s Dion Phaneuf (9th overall, Calgary) and Tri-Cities’ Shawn Belle (30th overall, St. Louis) are on the roster along with Hitman defenseman Mike Egener, Red Deer’s Derek Meech, Lethbridge’s Brent Seabrook, White and Josh Gorges, the captain for the WHL at Canada/Russia Challenge.

Highlighting the list up front for the WHL are Wheat King Eric Fehr and Calgary’s Ryan Getzlaf. Moose Jaw’s Kyle Brodziak, Prince Albert’s Jeremy Collition, Vancouver’s Adam Courchaine and Kootneay’s Nigel Dawes will also be in Kitchener.

For other countries, Marcus Jonasen of the Tri-Cities Americans will play for Team Sweden at the World Juniors. Marcus Paulsson of the Saskatoon Blades was also announced to the Sweden roster as a non-travelling reserve. Red Deer’s Masi Marjamaki was announced to the Team Finland roster and Moose Jaw’s Tomas Fleischman will play with the Czech squad. Also, Brandon Wheat King defenseman Ole-Kristan Tollefsen was named captain for Team Norway in the upcoming World Junior “B” Hockey Championships in France.

Complete WHL Roster for the Canadian Selection Camp

 
Name Position Team Hometown Drafted
Josh Harding G Regina Pats Regina, SK MIN ’02 (2, 38)
Cam Ward G Red Deer Rebels Sherwood Park, AB CAR ’02 (1, 25)
Shawn Belle D Tri Cities Americans Edmonton, AB STL ’03 (1, 30)
Braydon Coburn D Portland Winterhawks Shaunavon, SK ATL ’03 (1, 8)
Mike Egener D Calgary Hitmen Calgary, AB TB ’03 (2, 34)
Josh Gorges D Kelowna Rockets Kelowna, BC Free agent
Derek Meech D Red Deer Rebels Winnipeg, MB DET ’02 (7, 229)
Dion Phaneuf D Red Deer Rebels Edmonton, AB CAL ’03 (1, 9)
Brent Seabrook D Lethbridge Hurricanes Tsawwassen, BC CHI ’03 (1, 14)
Ian White D Swift Current Broncos Steinbach, MB TOR ’02 (6, 191)
Kyle Brodziak F Moose Jaw Warriors Vegreville, AB EDM ’03 (7, 214)
Jeremy Collition F Prince Albert Raiders Blackie, AB NYI ’03 (2, 58)
Adam Courchaine F Vancouver Giants Winnipeg, MB MIN ’03 (7, 219)
Nigel Dawes F Kootneay Ice Winnipeg, MB NYR ’03 (7, 229)
Eric Fehr F Brandon Wheat Kings Winkler, MB WSH ’03 (1, 18)
Ryan Getzlaf F Calgary Hitman Regina, SK ANA ’03 (1, 19)