Eight Saskatchewan products, all of whom played Under-18 Triple-A hockey this past season in Saskatoon or Warman, are among 100 players invited to participate in Canada’s National Under-17 Development camp.

Goaltenders Luke Brunen of Warman and Chase Wutzke of Debden, defencemen Tyson Buczkowski of Saskatoon and Tarin Smith of Porcupine Plain plus forwards Cole Peardon of Outlook and forwards Berkly Catton, Roger McQueen and Trae Wilkie…all of Saskatoon…will attend the July 10th to 16th camp in Calgary. The event starts the evaluation towards 66 players being named to three separate Canadian teams for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in early November on B-C’s Lower Mainland. All eight Saskatchewan athletes have been selected in either the first or second round of the last two W-H-L Prospect Drafts. Brunen played last season for the Warman Wildcats. Buczkowski, Smith, Peardon, McQueen and Wilkie all suited up with the Saskatoon Blazers while Wutzke and Catton were with the Saskatoon Contacts. Following is the news release from Hockey Canada, plus the complete development camp roster…..

June 9, 2022
NR.030.22

100 PLAYERS INVITED TO CANADA’S NATIONAL UNDER-17 DEVELOPMENT CAMP
Calgary-based camp introduces players to expectations of Team Canada athletes

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has invited 100 players to participate in Canada’s national under-17 development camp, set to take place July 10-16 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

For the duration of the week-long camp, the players – 10 goaltenders, 30 defencemen and 60 forwards – will be split into five teams for on- and off-ice training, fitness testing, practices, intrasquad games and classroom sessions.

Alan Millar, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada, led the player selection process, with assistance from U17 head scout Byron Bonora and regional scouts Rob Simpson (Ontario), Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario), as well as Member representatives.

“The national under-17 development camp is the first stage in introducing these athletes to the Program of Excellence, and it is a great opportunity for them to develop as players and learn what it takes to wear the Maple Leaf,” said Millar.  “We look forward to enhancing these young players’ ongoing development during this camp and starting the process of building our three national U17 teams for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this fall.”

Following the camp, players will continue to be evaluated through the early portion of the 2022-23 season before 66 are named to one of three Canadian national teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White – that will compete at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scheduled for Nov.5-12 in Langley and Delta, B.C.

So far, 77 of the 100 players have been drafted by Canadian Hockey League teams, including 40 from the Ontario Hockey League and 37 from the Western Hockey League, while the remaining 23 are prospects for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft, to be held July 4-5.