Ahac, Anhorn get Team Canada West invitations

Prince George Spruce Kings defencemen Layton Ahac and Dylan Anhorn have earned the chance to try out for Team Canada West, which will compete at the upcoming World Junior A Challenge in Bonnyville, Alta.

Ahac and Anhorn are among 44 players (26 forwards, 14 defencemen, four goaltenders) who have been invited to a Canada West camp, Dec. 3-5 in Calgary. Invitees were identified by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League, with assistance from NHL Central Scouting.

Ahac, a 17-year-old from North Vancouver, is rated as a ‘B’ prospect (potential second- or third-round pick) for the 2019 NHL draft. The six-foot-three, 195-pounder has already secured a U.S. college scholarship at Ohio State, an NCAA Division 1 school in Columbus. He’ll begin play with the Buckeyes in 2019-2020.

So far this B.C. Hockey League season with the Spruce Kings, Ahac has 17 assists in 28 games.

Anhorn is a 19-year-old from Calgary who stands six feet and weighs 182 pounds. In 29 outings with the Kings this season, he has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points. He has a U.S. college scholarship under wraps with Union College, an NCAA Division 1 institution in Schenectady, N.Y. Like Ahac, he’ll start his college hockey career in 2019-2020.

“We are proud of both Layton Ahac and Dylan Anhorn for earning the opportunity to attend Canada West World Junior A camp,” said Spruce Kings head coach Adam Maglio in a team release issued Monday. “They both are huge contributors to our team and I know both will be excited for the camp and tryout process.”

The World Junior A Challenge runs from Dec. 9-16. Other teams are Canada East, the United States, Russia and the Czech Republic.