CJHL Spotlight: Canada East/West WJAC selection camps set to open

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CJHL Spotlight
Canada East/West WJAC selection camps set to open

Release date : Friday, Dec. 2, 2016

CALGARY, Alta. – This weekend will see 100 Canadian Junior Hockey League hopefuls begin their quest for a roster spot on either Canada East or Canada West for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Challenge in Bonnyville, Alta.

The 2016 WJAC goes Dec. 11-17 at the R.J. Lalonde Arena in Bonnyville and will feature the two Canadian sides taking on national teams from Russia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and the U.S. in the week-long event.

There will be 40 players heading to the MasterCard Centre in Suburban Toronto to take part in the Canada East camp, which runs Saturday through Wednesday (Dec. 3-7).

Following two practices on Saturday there will be a pair of inter-squad match-ups Sunday.

The two sides will then meet one final time on Monday, after which the Canada East roster will be selected.

Canada East will then practice Tuesday before taking on a team of selected players from the OJHL that evening.

The squad will then skate one more time on Wednesday, Dec. 7 before boarding a flight to Alberta where they will meet Russia at 7:30 p.m. MT in a pre-tournament contest Dec. 9 in St. Paul, Alta.

Team Canada East’s first game at the WJAC goes Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3:30 p.m. MST vs. the Czech Republic.

Next up will be a 7:30 p.m. MT contest against the Americans on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Further games and opponents will be based on their round robin results.

Making up those who will be vie for positions for Team East are skaters and goaltenders from the five eastern-based leagues from the CJHL in the MHL, LHJAAAQ, CCHL, OHL and NOJHL.

Meanwhile there will be 60 prospects traveling to Leduc, Alta., for the four-day Canada West camp Monday through Thursday (Dec. 5-8).

That group will consist of players from the five western-based leagues in the CJHL; the BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL and SIJHL.

Following practices on Monday morning in Leduc the camp will feature a trio of inter-squad games that night.

Tuesday’s ice time will see another goaltenders session followed by three contests during the day and three more in the evening.

Wednesday has one more netminder’s practice on the slate before the day wraps up with three additional inter-squad match-ups.

From there coaching staff will finalize their WJAC roster with Canada West taking to the ice Thursday morning for their initial practice as a team.

Canada West will then make their way to Cold Lake, Alta., for a pre-tournament game vs. the U.S. on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. MT.

They will then commence play at the WJAC in Bonnyville Sunday, Dec. 11 as they take on Swizterland at 7:30 p.m. MT.

One night later they’ll square off against Russia in another 7:30 p.m. start.

Canada West will enter the WJAC as defending champions.

CANADA EAST SELECTION CAMP SCHEDULE
All times local

MasterCard Centre – Etobicoke, Ont.
Saturday, Dec. 3
7:30 p.m. – Team Gold Practice
8:30 p.m. – Team Black Practice

Sunday, Dec. 4
9:30 a.m. – GAME: Gold vs. Black
6:45 p.m. – GAME: Black vs. Gold

Monday, Dec. 5
12 p.m. – GAME: Gold vs. Black

Tuesday, Dec. 6
10 a.m. – Canada East practice
11 a.m. – OJHL Selects practice
6:45 p.m. – GAME: Canada East vs. OJHL Selects

Wednesday, Dec. 7
9 a.m. – Canada East practice

CANADA EAST WJAC SCHEDULE

Friday, Dec. 9
Pre-tournament game vs. Russia 7:30 p.m.
@ St. Paul, Alta.

Sunday, Dec. 11
vs. Czech Republic 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 13
vs. U.S.A. 7:30 p.m.

Remaining Schedule to be Determined

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CANADA EAST SELECTION CAMP ROSTER

CANADA WEST SELECTION CAMP SCHEDULE

Leduc Recreation Centre – Leduc, Alta.
All times local

Monday, Dec. 5
9 a.m. – Goaltenders Practice
9:30 a.m. –Team Red Practice
10:25 a.m. – Team White Practice
11:20 a.m. – Team Blue Practice
7 p.m. – GAME: Red vs. White
8:15 p.m. – GAME: White vs. Blue
9:30 p.m. – GAME: Blue vs. Red

Tuesday, Dec. 6
9 a.m. – Goaltenders Practice
9:30 a.m. – GAME: White vs. Red
10:25 a.m. – GAME: Red vs. Blue
11:20 a.m. – GAME: Blue vs. White
6:30 p.m. – GAME: Red vs. White
7:45 p.m. – GAME: White vs. Blue
9 p.m. – GAME: Blue vs. Red

Wednesday, Dec. 7
9 a.m. – Goaltenders Practice
9:30 a.m. – GAME: Blue vs. White
10:45 a.m. – GAME: Red vs. Blue
12 p.m. – GAME: White vs. Red

Thursday, Dec. 8
9 a.m. – Canada West practice

CANADA WEST WJAC SCHEDULE

Friday, Dec. 9
Pre-tournament game vs. U.S.A. 7:30 p.m.
@ Cold Lake, Alta.

Sunday, Dec. 11
vs. Switzerland 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 12
vs. Russia 7:30 p.m.

Remaining Schedule to be Determined

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CANADA WEST SELECTION CAMP ROSTER