Blades trio is bound for Russia for worlds
A Pac-Man trio has gobbled up three Hockey Canada roster spots.
Team Canada will have a distinctive Saskatoon Blades flavour for the upcoming IIHF world under-18 male hockey championship in Russia.
A Blades trio of goaltender Nolan Maier (Yorkton) and forwards Chase Wouters (Lloydminster) and Kirby Dach (Fort Saskatchewan) are among 21 players set to join Canada’s national under-18 team training camp prior to the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship April 19-29 in Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk, Russia.
“It’s really an exciting day for the Blades, especially for those three young men,” says Blades general manager Colin Priestner. “They’re all really special players and special people. To have 21 players from the country named to the team right now and to have three of them is quite an accomplishment and for two of them (Maier and Dach) to be underage, it really shows extremely well.
“It’s huge to have three cornerstone players all recognized and play for Hockey Canada. It’s something we haven’t had for a long, long time. I don’t think we’ve had a single player for Hockey Canada in years, let alone three.”
Canada’s team will assemble next week in Etobicoke, Ont., before flying to Russia for two pre-tournament games against Slovakia and Finland.
Maier is among three goalies joining the roster. Dach and Wouters are two of 12 forwards invited. Another is Prince Albert Raiders forward Cole Fonstad from Estevan.
Former Blades top pick Jonathan Tychonick, a Penticton Vees (BCHL) junior A defenceman from Calgary, is among the D -men listed.
Canada will look to reclaim gold for the first time since 2013, kicking off the tournament against the United States on Thursday, April 19.