Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Veleno, Bowers invited to Canada camp

Former Saint John Sea Dogs captain Joe Veleno has been invited to Team Canada's World Junior Selection Camp.

Veleno was one of the 34 players invited to the camp, which will take place Dec. 11-14 in Victoria. The roster consists of three goaltenders, 12 defensemen and 19 forwards.

The Drummondville Voltigeurs forward has 19 goals and 26 assists in 25 games this season. He's one of the hottest players in Canada right now, recording eight goals and 14 assists in his past six games. Most "experts" had Veleno on the fence of receiving an invite - but his hot play of late likely secured a spot.

Eight players from the QMJHL received invites: Veleno (DRU), Pierre-Olivier Joseph (CHA), Noah Dobson (BAT), Jared McIsaac (HFX), Nicolas Beaudin (DRU), Maxime Comtois (DRU), Alexis Lafrenière (RIM) and Raphael Lavoie (HFX).

Also invited was Boston University forward and Halifax native Shane Bowers. The Colorado Avalanche prospect was a draft pick of Saint John in 2016 bur never reported to the club. He has three goals and two assists in 13 NCAA games this year.

The selection camp will feature three exhibition games against a U Sports all-star squad. The U Sports lineup includes former Sea Dogs defenseman Matt Murphy of the UNB Reds.

Elsewhere around the globe, former Sea Dogs forward Ostap Safin of the Halifax Mooseheads and defenseman Radim Salda of the Rimouski Oceanic have been invited to the Czech Republic's world junior camp. Both played in last year's tournament.

World junior pre-tournament play begins on Dec. 18. The real thing starts on Boxing Day in Vancouver and Victoria.

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