National Junior Team update

NEWS RELEASES

HOCKEY CANADA

********************************

GREAT FAN SUPPORT FOR FIRST INTERSQUAD GAME

CALGARY – The first National Junior Development Camp intrasquad game took place at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary on Wednesday night, with Team White winning 3-2 over Team Red.

The two youngest goalies got the nod in net for both teams as Jonathan Bernier (Laval, QC/Lewiston, QMJHL) started for Team Red and Carey Price (Anahim Lake, BC/Tri-City, WHL) was between the pipes for Team White.

The game got off to a blistering start as both teams looked to take control of the first game in the three-game series.

Team White’s Brad Marchand (Hammonds Plains, NS/Moncton, QMJHL) opened the scoring five minutes into the game with a great individual effort splitting the Team Red defensemen and getting a shot off that was initially stopped by Bernier, but trickled between his legs as he was searching for the puck.

Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, ON/Michigan, WCHA) increased Team White’s lead to 2-0 at the half way mark of the first period when a miscue behind the Team Red net sent a bouncing puck on to Cogliano’s stick, and he made no mistake, burying the puck into an empty net with Bernier caught out of position.

At the half way mark of the second period, Team White forward Bryan Little (Cambridge, ON/ Barrie, OHL) was hauled down and awarded a penalty shot. Little tried to go between the netminder’s legs but Price was up to the challenge and left the game with a 2-0 lead for Team White.

Both teams replaced their goaltenders with 8:02 remaining in the second period. Team Red’s Bernier finished with 11 saves, while allowing two goals. Team White’s Price made 13 saves, allowing no goals. Tyler Plante (Brandon, MB/Brandon, WHL) took over for Team Red, and Jean-Philippe Levasseur (Victoriaville, QC/ Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL) took over for Team White.

Kenndal McArdle (Burnaby, BC/Moose Jaw, WHL) got Team Red on the board with four minutes remaining in the second, pushing a Claude Giroux pass behind Levasseur to get Team Red to within one.

Team Red had a two man advantage late in the second period looking to tie things up, but Levasseur was up to the task as he turned aside numerous Team Red scoring chances. Team White led 2 -1 heading into the final period.

A minute and a half in to the third, Team Red defensemen Patrick McNeill (Strathroy, ON/Saginaw, OHL) banged home a rebound after jumping up into the play to knot things up at 2-2.

Team White regained their one goal lead two minutes later on the power play when Chris Stewart (Scarborough, ON/Kingston, OHL) took a rebound and slid the puck in to the open side of the net as Tyler Plante was on the opposite side of the net after making the initial save.

Stewart’s goal held up as the winner as Team White took game one 3-2 in an intense battle that went right down to the wire. Levasseur made 13 saves in 28 minutes while allowing two goals, and Tyler Plante made 10 saves while allowing one goal in net for Team Red.

**************************

CANADA’S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM PLAYERS GET TESTED

CALGARY – As Canada’s National Junior players started day three of the summer development camp, each player was tested by Gatorade as to their individual hydration levels.

All forty-five players attending camp were weighed before practice and had a small white sweat patch stuck to their forehead during their practice.

The players participated in a normal one hour practice, and the sweat patches were removed and an analysis was done by Dr. Lawrence Spriet, Professor at the University of Guelph.

The reports were then given to the National Team doctor, Dr. Brian Benson who presented each player with their individual results and provided feedback as to how much fluid they were losing, how to replenish and stay hydrated, and how much sodium loss they were experiencing during their workouts.

The players, trainers and coaching staff were all educated on the importance of hydration and although most players were rehydrating properly, the test results showed the importance of hydration in relation to elite level performance. Any little edge or advantage over the competition is always a benefit.

**************************

RILEY HOLZAPFEL ADDED TO CANADA’S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM’S DEVELOPMENT CAMP ROSTER

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, announced on Wednesday that forward Riley Holzapfel (Regina, SK/ Moose Jaw, WHL) has been added to Canada’s National Junior Team’s Development Camp roster and joined the camp in time for Wednesday’s morning’s practice session. Holzapfel was added after forward Guillaume Latendresse (Ste-Catherine, QC/ Drummondville, QMJHL) was injured during the first Red/White game on Tuesday.

Latendresse was injured in the first period of the Red/White game following a collision. He was evaluated by the team’s medical staff, and was suffering from concussion-like symptoms, therefore he will not be taking part in the final two intersquad games.

Latendresse is one of 12 players at this camp who won gold with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship in British Columbia.

Holzapfel will be taking Latendresse’s spot on Team Red and will take part in the second of three intersquad games on Wednesday night. Holzapfel was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, 43rd overall.

Canada’s National Junior Team Development Camp will run through July 28th at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, AB. The Development Camp includes practices and three Red/White intersquad games. Team White scored a 3-2 victory over Team Red in Game # 1 on Tuesday, in front of over 1000 fans at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary.

For more information on Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and the National Junior Team Program, visit Hockey Canada’s official website at www.hockeycanada.ca.

************************************************************