Three players from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League have been named to Team Canada West which will participate in the upcoming World Junior A Challenge.
Reilly Funk, F, of the Portage Terriers will be joined by Steinbach Pistons’ Matt Radomsky (G) and Matt Osadick (F) from the Swan Valley Stampeders.
Team Canada West will open its tournament against the United States on December 9th. Bonnyville, AB, will host the WJAC for the second time in three years from December 9-15.
“After months of preparation and identifying players, it was great to gather in Calgary and allow the players to compete for a spot on Team Canada West,” said Kevin Saurette (MJHL), director of operations for Team Canada West.
“Whenever you gather the best players from five Junior A leagues, there are bound to be difficult decisions. We believe we have a strong group of talented players, and we look forward to the challenge of competing for a gold medal.”
The players were selected from the CJHL’s five western Junior A leagues: Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey Leauge (MJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).
Also named to Team Canada West is athletic therapist Hailee Dayman of Virden Oil Capitals and Saurette (MJHL’s Director of Operations), who returns to the same role as last WJAC.
Team Canada West will be coached by Rick Swan (Bonnyville Pontiacs, AJHL).
About the WJAC
The World Junior A Challenge is made possible thanks to the partnership between Hockey Canada, the CJHL, and NHL Central Scouting, and features two Canadian teams, representing East and West, as well as four international teams vying for a gold medal. Ten of the 12 gold-medal games at the World Junior A Challenge have featured at least one Canadian team. Team Canada West won gold at the first two tournaments, in 2006 and 2007, and also took home gold in 2011, 2015, and 2017. The team also won silver medals in 2008, 2009, and 2012, as well as bronze in 2013. Team Canada East won silver medals in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2016, as well as claiming the bronze medal in 2008.
For more information on the World Junior A Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.
