staff reporter
Three members of the Ridge Meadows Minor Ball Hockey Association are headed to the Czech Republic after being named to the U-16 Canadian national team.
Goaltender Tristan Slavin, forward Jonathin Weloy and defenseman Lucas Campbell will be competing for Team Canada at the third annual Junior World Ball Hockey Championships next June, as Team Canada attempts to win its third straight gold at the tournament.
All three players just came off a gold medal at the Western Canada championships with the Ridge Meadow Renegades and participated with the B.C. provincial team, the West Coast Wolverines, in the U-15 national division and finished fourth overall in their pool.
Slavin has played in six western Canadian championships, with three gold medals and a bronze, and has twice appeared in the U-15 national championships. Slavin posted a .941 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against average this year at nationals.
Forward Weloy had one goal and three assists at the recent 2011 Junior Nationals. In five western Canadian championship tournaments, Weloy has led his team in scoring on numerous occasions and was one of the top scorers in his division.
Campbell was tied for fourth in overall scoring at the U-15 junior nationals, despite playing on the blue line. Campbell has eight years of ball hockey experience and was one of the top two defenseman for the West Coast Wolverines at the nationals this past summer.
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