Future Nhlers coming to Quebec

Tourney gathers best of the best

Quebec will welcome some of the best young players from across Canada and Europe in December, when Victoriaville and Drummondville co-host the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

It’s a chance for fans to see future NHLers, if past history is any indication.

Since the event began in 1986, Hockey Canada says approximately 1,200 National Hockey League draft picks have suited up in the tournament.

That includes nine of the last 12 No. 1 overall picks, including Ilya Kovalchuk, Marc-André Fleury, Alexander Ovechkin, Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Currently locked-out NHLer Antoine Vermette represented Team Quebec during the 1999 Canada Games and says playing against such talented players was a great opportunity.

“It attracts a lot of scouts and hockey people,” the Phoenix Coyotes f orward said.

“So this is a really good tournament and, actually, I am pretty excited for those guys because at the moment it will be their first international experience.”

The tournament begins Dec. 29 and features 10 teams,

“It’s always a big thrill to play against other

countries.”

ANTOINE VERMETTE

including Russia — the defending champions — Finland, Sweden, Slovakia and the United States.

There are five Canadian teams representing the different areas of the country, with the Pacific, West and Atlantic regions icing teams, as well as ones from Ontario and Quebec.

The gold-medal game is slated for Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Victoriaville and will be televised on TSN and RDS.

“It’s always a big thrill to play against other countries and see how they play,” Vermette said. “It’s not only other countries, but you are playing against the best of the best, and it’s a good experience.”

The 30-year-old forward, who played his junior hockey with the Victoriaville Tigres, says that in the 1999 tournament he played with guys like Pascal Leclaire and Matthew Lombardi, and faced Jay Bouwmeester and Scott Hartnell, among others, on the Alberta team that won the tournament.

“It’s an elite team, so most likely you are playing with guys who are going to make it (to the NHL),” Vermette said.

“It’s always interesting as a player to face the elite player. You are always raising your game by playing with better players and playing against better players.”

Vermette is excited for Victoriaville, which will get a chance to see the stars of tomorrow up close.

“I think they will embrace it greatly,” he said of the fans.

“There are a bunch of highly skilled guys coming in.” For more information on the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge visit the Hockey Canada website at www. hockeycanada.ca