Former Seafair Minor Hockey standout Glenn Gawdin has been named to the Team Pacific roster for the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, slated for Dec. 29-Jan. 4 in Cape Breton NS.
Team Pacific is comprised of 13 players from B.C. and nine from Alberta.
Hockey Alberta and B.C. Hockey each identified 23 U17 male athletes to take part in the Team Pacific Summer Camp that was held in July in Calgary. These players were then evaluated during the first part of their club's team season by a Team Pacific evaluation group.
Gawdin is currently in his rookie season in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos. The 6-foot-1 180-pound centre has a goal and eight assists in nine games.
After a stellar career with Seafair, Gawdin enjoyed a productive season in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League with the Greater Vancouver Canadians. He was the Broncos first round selection in the 2012 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
"The selection process for this team was very in-depth and the coaching staff feels very positive about the roster that's been assembled," said Team Pacific Head Coach, Steve
Hamilton. "We think this is a very deep team with a good combination of skill, size and character - all the elements needed to play a versatile game."
The 2014 World U17 Hockey Challenge brings together the top players in the world born 1997 or later. The tournament is made up of 10 teams; five from Canada - Quebec, Ontario, Pacific (Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon), Atlantic (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) and West (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut) and five international teams.
Team Pacific will be competing in Group A with Team West, Team Quebec, Sweden and Czech Republic.
Group B will comprise of Germany, USA, Team Ontario, Team Atlantic and Russia.
Team Pacific will play an exhibition game against Russia on Dec. 28 before they play their first preliminary round contest against Team Quebec on Dec. 29.
"In such a short-term competition, we'll want to play a high-paced game, requiring contributions from every player. I feel confident in the depth and talent of Team Pacific," added Hamilton.
