HUBERDEAU MAKES U-18 TEAM

A year ago, it wasn’t clear if Jonathan Huberdeau would ever wear a Saint John Sea Dogs sweater. But after luring their first round draft choice away from the NCAA, it was clear Saint John had a solid player with lots of potential.

He’s future as an elite NHL prospect took a step forward today as he was named to Canada’s Under-18 Team for the Memorial Ivan Hlinka Tournament. The roster was named following the final intersquad game of the summer selection camp.

“It was a very competitive camp, and choosing these 22 players was by no means an easy task,” said Head Coach George Burnett of the Belleville Bulls in a release. “All of the players named today have earned their spot on the roster, and we look forward to getting to Europe and defending Canada’s gold medal.”

Huberdeau was one of only four players from the Quebec Major Hockey League to be named to the team. He will be joined by Chicoutimi goaltender Robin Gusse, Montreal defenceman Xavier Ouellet, and Victoriaville forward Phillip Danault.

The Sea Dogs forward scored a goal and added an assist in his three intersquad games at the camp. Although Team White lost all three games, they did come back from a 5-0 deficit today to lose the game 8-7 in a shootout.

The St. Gerome, Quebec native scored 15 goals and 20 assists in 61 games played in the regular season with the Dogs. In the playoffs, he added 11 goals and seven assists.

From the Hockey Canada press release:

Canada has won the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka in five of the past six years, and will play in Group B with Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, a group that will be based out of Piestany. Group A, which consists of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and the United States, will play out of Breclav.

Canada will face the Czech Republic in an exhibition game in Breclav on Saturday, August 7 before opening the tournament against Sweden on Monday, August 9. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals on Friday, August 13, with the gold medal game scheduled for Saturday, August 14.

There will be no TV or radio coverage of the event. Hockey Canada’s official website, www.hockeycanada.ca, is the place to find complete coverage of Canada at the tournament.

National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team breakdown

2 goaltenders, 7 defencemen, 13 forwards
21 players from the Canadian Hockey League
13 players from the Ontario Hockey League
4 players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
4 players from the Western Hockey League
1 player from the Central Canadian Hockey League
20 players with experience in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence