The Kelowna Rockets will be without three of their top players for at least a week later this month.
Dillon Dube, Kole Lind and Cal Foote are all hoping their absence from the WHL club will be considerably longer than that.
Dube, Lind and Fooote were among 31 players invited by Hockey Canada to attend the national junior team’s final selection camp next week in St. Catharines, ON.
Twenty-two players will make up Canada’s final roster for the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship beginning Boxing Day in Buffalo, NY.
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Dube is looking to make the national team roster for the second year in a row.
“I’m taking nothing for granted, it’s going to be a great experience to have a chance to represent my country again,” said Dube, 19, who had three assists in seven games at last year’s world juniors where Canada won silver.
Dube is having a stellar season with Kelowna so far, leading the team through 25 games with 36 points.
The Calgary Flames’ draft pick served as captain of Team WHL for the CIBC Canada Russia Series. He led all three CHL teams against the Russians, with two goals and five points, tying an event record for points by a WHL player.
Foote, the Rockets’ captain, will be making his first appearance at the selection camp.
“Dillon, Kole and I were all looking forward to the list and it’s great that we were all on it,” said Foote, 19. “For me, I just need to go in and focus on my game, making good outlet passes, play great defense and be engaged. If I make the team, I’m going to embrace whatever role they ask of me.”
This season, the Tampa Bay Lightning first-rounder leads Kelowna defencemen in goals (6) and points (26). Foote also played for Team WHL in the CIBC Canada Russia Series, finishing with four penalty minutes in two games.
Like Foote, Lind will also be making his first appearance at the selection camp.
“I’m honoured to be selected and recognized by Hockey Canada,” said Lind. “I’m obviously really excited but still have to earn my first opportunity to play for Team Canada.
“I’m expecting some fast and skilled hockey, very excited to get things going.”
He recently missed six games due to illness, but prior to that was leading the Rockets’ in scoring. The Shaunavon, SK native still sits second on the Rockets with 34 points, including 12 goals in 21 games. The Vancouver Canucks’ prospect also played in the CIBC Canada Russia Series where he posted two goals and an assist in two games.
All three players will play the first two games of the Rockets’ road trip which begins Friday night, then will travel Monday to St. Catharines for the selection camp which runs Dec. 12 to 15.
Rockets road trip…
The Rockets open a six-game tour of Eastern Division cities Friday night in Regina against the Memorial Cup host Pats.
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The trip continues Saturday in Brandon, next Tuesday and Wednesday in Moose Jaw and Swift Current, before wrapping up with visits to Prince Albert and Saskatoon on Dec. 15 and 16.
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