Carson Bolduc of Salmon Arm has been selected to represent Team Pacific at the 2012/2012 World Junior U17 Hockey Challenge in Victoriaville/Drummondville, Que. on Dec 29 to Jan 4.
Team Pacific is comprised of 11 players from B.C. and 11 players from Alberta. Hockey Alberta and BC Hockey each identified 34 U17 male athletes (four goalies, 12 D-men, 18 forwards) from their respective provincial evaluation camps to participate in the joint regional camp in July 2012. From the regional camp, these players were assessed during the first part of their club’s team season by the Team Pacific evaluators.
“With this being the first year of the combined regional camp, it made for a unique evaluation process,” said Team Pacific Head Coach Jason Becker. “Wade Klippenstein, the Pacific region head scout, has done a great job in creating a fair and positive evaluation process.”
The 2013 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge brings together the top players in the world born 1996 or later. The tournament is made up of 10 teams; five from Canada –Quebec, Ontario, Pacific (Alberta, B.C., Northwest Territories, Yukon), Atlantic (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) and West (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut) and five five international teams.
Team Pacific will be competing in Group A at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge with Team West, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Group B will comprise of Slovakia, the United States, Ontario, Team Atlantic and Quebec. Team Pacific will play an exhibition game against the United States on Dec. 28 before they play their first preliminary round contest against defending gold medallist Russia on Dec. 29.
“It’s a great feeling, just knowing that you’re one of the top guys in Western Canada,” said Bolduc, who credits a strong off season of training for his success. “After Team Pacific camp I went home, worked hard, skated lots and got ready for camp, and it’s paid off.”
Though Bolduc was the only Cougars player selected to the team, he’s not the only Prince George Cougars representative. Cougars assistant coach Jason Becker is the head coach of the 2013 Team Pacific, while Cougars assistant G.M. and director of player personnel, Wade Klippenstein, is the head scout.
“Carson brings a lot to the table,” said Team Pacific Head Coach Jason Becker. “It’s been a pleasure to see him step into a bigger role, accept it, and do the things necessary that he needs to do on the i