Zack Torquato begins national U-18 bid

Zack Torquato began his quest earlier today to crack the roster of the Canadian National Under-18 Men's Hockey Team.

The local product and Soo North Stars graduate is coming off a solid rookie season with the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit, who chose the 17 year-old in the first round of the 2005 draft.

Players skated today in practise sessions and will continue to workout through the week with three intrasquad games on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

The final roster will practise together on Wednesday before leaving for Europe on Thursday to participate in the Junior World Cup starting August 8.

In 65 games with Saginaw, Torquato notched 19 goals and 18 helpers for 37 points.

Torquato is also no stranger to the Hockey Canada program as the six-foot, 195 pound forward suited up for Team Ontario in last year's Under-17 World Hockey Challenge.

The following is a press release and other information from Hockey Canada concerning the selection camp:

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CANADA’S NATIONAL SUMMER UNDER-18 TEAM SELECTION CAMP SET TO BEGIN IN CALGARY, AB

CALGARY, AB – Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team begins its Selection Camp on Saturday, July 29th in Calgary, with 44 of Canada’s top players under the age of 18 (born in 1989 or later) vying for a spot on Team Canada for the upcoming Junior World Cup (Ivan Hlinka Memorial) in Slovakia/Czech Republic. The Selection Camp will take place at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, AB from July 29 through August 2nd.

Hockey Canada Head Scout Jim Hammett will work with the coaching staff made up of Head Coach Cory Clouston (Viking, AB/ Kootenay, WHL) and assistant coaches Dave Hunchak (Warman, SK/Swift Current, WHL) and Jeff Truitt (Rosetown, SK/ Kelowna, WHL) on evaluating players and selecting the final roster of 22 players on August 2nd, prior to Team Canada departing for Europe on August 3rd.

Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team is one of two Under-18 Teams that Hockey Canada operates on an annual basis. In April, Canada’s World Championship Under-18 Team, comprised of players and staff members not involved in their respective league playoffs, will attend the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

The National Under-18 Program is a significant part of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, which consists of:

1. Regional/Provincial Under-17 Teams (that take part in either the World Under-17 Challenge or the Canada Winter Games) 2. National Under-18 Program (Summer Under-18 Team, World Championship Team) 3. Canada’s National Junior Team

The Program of Excellence also allows Hockey Canada to identify, evaluate and develop young hockey players to represent Canada on the international stage at events such as World Championships and the Olympics.

*** ROSTERS:

Team Red

Goaltenders

Cann, Trevor (Oakville, ON) Peterborough (OHL) Leclerc, Justin (Saskatoon, SK) Lethbridge (WHL)

Defence

Aulie, Keith (Rouleau, SK) Brandon (WHL) Desnoyers, Marc-Antoine (St-Hippolyte, QC) Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) Ehrhardt, Travis (Calgary, AB) Moose Jaw (WHL) Hickey, Thomas (Calgary, AB) Seattle (WHL) MacAskill, Ben (Aulds Cove, NS) Halifax (QMJHL) Plante, Alex (Brandon, MB) Calgary (WHL) Ross, Nick (Lethbridge, AB) Regina (WHL) Subban, P.K. (Rexdale, ON) Belleville (OHL)

Forwards

Allard, Jean-Simon (Alma, QC) St. John's (QMJHL) Bastien, Yves (Dowling, ON) Kitchener (OHL) Couture, Logan (London, ON) Ottawa (OHL) Ennis, Tyler (Edmonton, AB) Medicine Hat (WHL) Fortier, Olivier (Quebec City, QC) Rimouski (QMJHL) King, Dwight (Meadow Lake, SK) Lethbridge (WHL) Laroche, Marc-André (Victoriaville, QC) Rimouski (QMJHL) Leffler, Brett (Wynyard, SK) Regina (WHL) MacMillan, Logan (Winsloe, PEI) Halifax (QMJHL) Sceviour, Colton (Red Deer, AB) Portland (WHL) Sonne, Brett (Maple Ridge, BC) Calgary (WHL) Tavares, John (Oakville, ON) Oshawa (OHL)

Unable to participate due to injury: Terry, Chris (Brampton, ON) Plymouth (OHL) Smith, Brendan (Mimico, ON) St. Michael's (OPJHL)

Team White Goaltenders Fischer, Jake (Belle River, ON) Windsor (OHL) Mucha, Kurtis (Sherwood Park, AB) Portland (WHL)

Defence

Doughty, Drew (London, ON) Guelph (OHL) Doyle, Eric (Calgary, AB) Everett (WHL) Grant, Alex (Antigonish, NS) Saint John (QMJHL) Katic, Mark (Porcupine, ON) Sarnia (OHL) Lund, Stephen (Halifax, NS) PEI (QMJHL) Marshall, Kevin (Boucherville, QC) Lewiston (QMJHL) Negrin, John (West Vancouver, BC) Kootenay (WHL) Schenn, Luke (Saskatoon, SK) Kelowna (WHL)

Forwards Boychuk, Zach (Airdrie, AB) Lethbridge (WHL) Brannon, Scott (Churchville, NS) Cape Breton (QMJHL) Cameron, Bryan (Brampton, ON) Belleville (OHL) Esposito, Angelo (Montreal, QC) Quebec (QMJHL) Gagner, Sam (Oakville, ON) Sioux City (USHL) Gillies, Colton (Surrey, BC) Saskatoon (WHL) Macenauer, Maxime (Laval, QC) Rimouski (QMJHL) Malone, Brad (Miriamichi, NB) Cushing Acad. (USHS) Stinziani, Michael (Lorraine, QC) Gatineau (QMJHL) Sutter, Brandon (Red Deer, AB) Red Deer (WHL) Torquato, Zack (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) Saginaw (OHL) Turris, Kyle (New Westminster, BC) Burnaby (BCHL)

Staff President: Bob Nicholson (Penticton, BC) Vice-president, Hockey: Johnny Misley (Vancouver, BC) Sr. Director, Men's National Teams/Communications: Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, BC) Director, Men's National Teams: Scott Salmond (Creston, BC) Head Scout, Men’s National Teams: Jim Hammett (Kelowna, BC) Head Coach: Cory Clouston (Viking, AB) Kootenay (WHL) Assistant Coach: Dave Hunchak (Warman, SK) Swift Current (WHL) Assistant Coach: Jeff Truitt (Rosetown, SK) Kelowna (WHL) Manager, Men's National Teams Services: Ron Pyette (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) Equipment Manager: Serge LeBlanc (Ste.-Marie-de-Kent, NB)Moncton (QMJHL) Athletic Therapist: Glenn Kinney (Peterborough, ON) Sarnia (OHL) Media Relations: André Brin (Winnipeg, MB) Media Relations: Sean Kelso (Vancouver, BC) ************************************************************