Eastern townships well represented at U17 Hockey Challenge in BC
Poulin, Peach and Mercer named to U17 Team Canada squads
After holding a week-long development camp in the summer with 111 players, Team Canada named 66 players to their three team’s participating in the 2017 U17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, British Columbia.
Three players with ties to the eastern townships were selected to one of three Team Canada squads. Donning the maple leaf will be Samuel Poulin and Bailey Peach from the Sherbrooke Phoenix and Dawson Mercer from the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Poulin, the second overall pick from the QMJHL Draft has two assists in five games with Sherbrooke after missing the early part of the regular season.
Peach, the 11th overall pick, has 4 points (1G, 3A) in 11 games with the Birds.
Mercer, a former player with the Bishop’s College School Bears, was drafted eighth overall by the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Through ten games, Mercer has four goals and two minutes in penalties for Sherbrooke’s rival.
“There is a strong, talented, and skilled group of players to choose from and we feel the 66 we have selected are a great representation of the depth of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence,” said Mcewen in a statement announcing the rosters. “These young men have demonstrated an ability to learn, grow, and develop while giving Canada the best chance at bringing home gold on Canadian ice.”
The tournament opens Nov. 5 at the Encana Events Centre in an all-canadian affair as last year’s silver-medallist, Team Canada Black, takes on Team Canada White at 2:30 p.m. MT (4:30 p.m. ET). The opening day concludes with Sweden facing Russia at North Peace Arena in Fort St. John.