Tuesday, October 22, 2013

WJAC to Showcase Future Stars

Dozens of recruits to compete in event next month in Yarmouth, N.S.

WJAC to Showcase Future Stars
Michigan Tech recruit Dane Birks will attend the Canada West selection camp in Calgary.

The eighth annual World Junior A Challenge, to be held Nov. 4-10 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, will showcase dozens of future NCAA college hockey stars as six teams chase gold.

U.S. Roster | Canada East Camp Roster | Canada West Camp Roster

USA Hockey has already named its roster for the event, a group of 22 players who have all committed to Division I schools and all currently play in the USHL. Fourteen programs have future players on the U.S. squad, led by Notre Dame (four) and North Dakota (three).

Canada has two teams in the tournament – Canada East and Canada West – made up of players from across the 10-league Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).

Hockey Canada will hold selection camps for both squads from Oct. 26-30 in Oakville, Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta. Nearly half of all Division I schools (28) have at least one recruit attending those selection camps, led by Clarkson and Rensselaer (four each) and Bemidji State, Michigan Tech and Western Michigan (three each).

65 players representing 37 schools

Between the U.S. roster and the Canadian selection camps, 65 players who have committed to 37 schools will be competing for gold at the World Junior A Challenge.

A number of participants in those Canadian selection camps remain uncommitted to schools, making them a popular destination for U.S. recruiters.

Canada East and West will name their final 22-man rosters on Oct. 30. Those teams will join the U.S., Czech Republic, Russia and Switzerland in Yarmouth for the event.