Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Four to Audition for Canada
Current NCAA players join four alumni for Spengler Cup.
Four current NCAA players and four alumni will represent Canada in the 2017 Spengler Cup, a final opportunity for candidates to showcase their abilities for the 2018 Canadian Olympic team.
Boston University’s Brandon Hickey (Leduc, Alta./Spruce Grove-AJHL/ARI), Notre Dame’s Jake Evans (Toronto, Ont./St. Michael’s-OJHL/MTL) and Northeastern’s Jeremy Davies (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec/Bloomington-USHL/NJ) and Dylan Sikura (Aurora, Ont./Aurora-OJHL/CHI) are among the players named to the 20-man roster for the tournament that runs from Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.
Joining those current NCAA players are alumni Andrew Ebbett (Michigan), Cody Goloubef (Wisconsin), David McIntyre (Colgate) and Mason Raymond (Minnesota Duluth).
“The Spengler Cup allows us an opportunity to take another look at some players who’ve been part of earlier teams, as well as work with some new faces, just given how it aligns with other league schedules,” said Canadian National Men’s Team general manager Sean Burke. “Our goal remains to put together the best possible team to compete in PyeongChang in February. We’re look forward to this opportunity to work with new players, and take part in this historic event.”
Four Current Players Selected
Hickey, BU’s captain this season, has three goals and two assists in 14 games as a senior, including a two-goal game at Boston College on Dec. 1. The defenseman represented Canada in the 2016 World Junior Championship.
Evans, who captains Notre Dame, leads the NCAA with 21 assists and 28 points in 20 games this season. The senior has led the Fighting Irish on an NCAA-best 13-game winning streak entering the holiday break and the No. 3 national ranking. He has 120 career points, second-most among active players.
Neither Hickey nor Evans will miss a game during the Spengler Cup. Davies and Sikura will miss No. 8 Northeastern’s Dec. 30 game against AIC.
Davies, a sophomore, leads Northeastern defensemen and ranks tied for seventh among the nation’s blueliners with 16 points through 17 games.
Sikura missed two games due to injury but still ranks tied for 14th nationally with 22 points (15 GP). His 1.47 points per game ranks fourth in the country and his 114 career points rank third. Sikura had been named to Canada’s roster for the Karjala Cup in November, but he had to miss the event due to injury.
“We’re thrilled that Jeremy and Dylan have the chance to compete with Team Canada,” said Northeastern head coach Jim Madigan. “Obviously we’ll miss their presence while they are away, but as a program we couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity they have in front of them. It’s certainly well-deserved.”
Canada has won back-to-back titles at the Spengler Cup, the oldest club tournament in the world. Ebbett, McIntyre and Raymond were all members of the 2016 Canadian team that won the event.
TSN will broadcast all 11 games in the tournament, which concludes Dec. 31.