Hockey Canada has invited seven local hockey players to attend various development and selection camps this summer in Calgary.
Langley’s Dennis Cholowski, Luke Zazula and Josh Williams, as well as Vancouver Giants Tyler Benson, Bowen Byram, Trent Miner and Harrison Blaisdell are among the 197 players announced on Tuesday (June 20).
Cholowski, a defenceman, and Benson, a forward, are among the 42 players hoping to earn an invitation to Canada’s national junior team selection camp in December.
Cholowski was a first round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2016 and he signed with a pro deal earlier this spring. Benson was a second round of Edmonton last June and has also signed with the Oilers, but if he fails to make the NHL club, would return to junior and the Giants.
Luke Zazula, a defenceman with the Kamloops Blazers, is trying to land a spot with Canada’s U18 team for the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in August.
And Williams, Byram, Miner and Blaisdell are among the 111 players at the U17 camp, with an eye on landing a final roster spot for Canada’s entry at the world under-17 Hockey Challenge in November.
Williams, a forward, is looking to crack the Medicine Hat Tigers roster this upcoming Western Hockey League season while Byram was named the top defenceman in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League’s Midget Prep Division with Yale Lions. He also played 11 games for the Giants in 2016/17.
Miner played last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings midget AAA team with a 2.64 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. He also attended a Hockey Canada program of excellence camp earlier this month.
And Blaisdell had 20 goals and 41 points in 40 points, with another 15 points in 22 playoff games, for the Regina Pat Canadians.
All four players were taken in the 2016 WHL bantam draft with Byram going third overall, Williams fifth and Miner also in the first round, 20th overall. Blaisdell was a second round pick.
