Katchouk, Timmins look to earn spots on Team Canada

A pair of members of the Soo Greyhounds will look to earn spots playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

On Wednesday, Hockey Canada named the 32 players who will compete for 22 spots on the Canadian entry in the annual Christmas event. Among the group of players were Greyhounds forward Boris Katchouk and defenceman Conor Timmins.

Katchouk, who leads the Greyhounds with 24 goals and sits second in points with 42 in 28 games this season, called the opportunity “a dream come true.”

“You watch (the tournament) as a kid on the couch so to get a chance to do that so that would be cool to put the (Canadian jersey) on.”

“He’s been so consistent all year,” said Hockey Canada Head Scout Brad McEwen. “He’s been a real driver for the Sault’s success to date and we really believe he can bring those same qualities to us in camp.

Timmins, who has six goals and 32 points in 26 games this season with the Greyhounds, left an impression with the Hockey Canada staff during the Canadian Hockey League’s series with Russia in November.

Timmins called being named to the camp “a huge opportunity.”

“I want to make the most of it,” Timmins added saying he feels as though his consistency with the Greyhounds this season helped in getting the opportunity.

Timmins had a goal and two assists in Team OHL’s 4-2 win over the Russians on Nov. 13.

“The Russia games were really good,” McEwen said. “He played in a way that really caught our eye. He pushed the pace. He was really good with the puck, he was elusive. After that series, it made it easy to include him in the camp and we’re expecting big things.”

The Canadian camp is set to open on Dec. 12 in St. Catharines, Ont. Following a four-day camp, the team will be trimmed to the 22 players who will represent Canada at the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship, which begins on Dec. 26 in Buffalo, NY.