Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence Goaltending Camp calls 10 WHL goalies
Hockey Canada is looking ahead to a busy 2017-18 season, and it starts with the annual Program of Excellence goaltending camp, June 9-11 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.
The weekend-long camp brings together some of the country’s top goaltending talent with elite-level instructors from across North America. The camp is the initial evaluation stage for summer development and selection camps in the under-17, under-18 and under-20 levels.
A total of 10 WHL goaltenders have been invited to the camp, including three at the under-20 level, one in the under-18 group and six within the under-17 category including one Kelowna Rockets prospect.
Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips), Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders) and Stuart Skinner (Lethbridge Hurricanes) will all look to impress as a part of the under-20 group in hopes of advancing to Canada’s National Junior Team summer development camp.
Carl Stankowski (Seattle Thunderbirds) is set to compete with sights on advancing to the National Men’s Under-18 summer development camp.
Rounding out WHL representation at the Program of Excellence goaltending camp and competing for opportunities at the under-17 development camp is Roman Basran (Kelowna Rockets), Boston Bilous (Edmonton Oil Kings), Byron Fancy (Red Deer Rebels), Taylor Gauthier (Prince George Cougars), Nolan Maier (Saskatoon Blades) and Trent Miner (Vancouver Giants).
“For the past 11 years, this goaltending camp has allowed us to monitor, evaluate and continue to develop elite-level players in a short amount of time,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations and men’s national teams. “Some players have just ended their seasons, but the opportunity to scout them all season and through this camp, we’re able to look ahead and plan for our development and selection camps with the talent we have.”
A total of seven goaltenders will compete within each of the under-20 and under-18 groups, while 16 hopefuls will aim to show their skills as a part of the under-17 crew.
Under the direction of Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel, and goaltending consultant Fred Brathwaite, the camp includes on- and off-ice sessions with instruction from Chris Chisamore (Hockey Canada), Myles Hovdebo (Hockey Canada), Brad Kirkwood (Hockey Canada), Jason LaBarbera (Calgary, WHL), and Dustin Schwartz (Edmonton, NHL).
Rick Wamsley (Hockey Canada) will lead the under-17 goaltenders, while Lyle Mast (Hockey Canada) will guide the U18 and U20 goalies.
For more information on the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter.