TORONTO, ON – Team Ontario Director of Operations Robert Kitamuraalong with Head Coach Jason Brooks today announced the 22-player roster for Ontario's Under 17 Team that will compete in the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge at a press conference held at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.
“After 190 plus player game evaluations during the last 75 days, I am pleased and proud to announce this year’s men’s Under-17 Team that will represent Ontario at the upcoming 2007/2008 World Hockey Challenge being held in London Ontario said Team Ontario Director of Operations Rob Kitamura. Selecting a team of this magnitude is always a difficult task; however, I believe that the coaching staff and I have selected the 22 best players that will represent Ontario with pride and class both on and off the ice at this high performance event. We hope that our team will turn in a Gold medal performance for Ontario at the World Hockey Challenge, stated Kitamura.”
London Ontariowill play host to this year’s tournament, which will take place from December 29, 2007 to January 4, 2008. This international event features five regional teams competing from across Canada and five international teams from Finland, Germany, Russia, Slovakia and USA. Team Ontario will play in a conference against Team Pacific, Quebec, Finland and Slovakia.
Team Ontario will get things under way on December 28th with an exhibition game against Team Russia and will play their first game of the round-robin series against Team Pacific on December 29th. The bronze and gold medal games will be held January 4th, 2008.
The Hockey Development Centre for Ontario (HDCO) facilitates the Men’s Under-17 hockey program on behalf of the 3 Ontario Branches of Hockey Canada.
