Pilon and Duke Heading to Youth Winter Olympics

The Lethbridge Hurricanes top two Bantam Draft picks from this year are wearing the Maple Leaf at the 1st ever Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. Defenceman Ryan Pilon (1st round pick, 3rd overall) and Reid Duke (1st round, 5th overall) were named to the 17 player roster for Team Canada.

Duke has been called up to play 7 games with the Hurricanes this season, registering 5 points (2G, 3A.) With his team the Calgary Royals, of the AMHL, Duke has 24 points (9G, 15A) in 22 games. Pilon has played 1 game with the Canes this season and with the Beardy’s Blackhawks of the Saskatchewan Midget Triple A Hockey League, he has 14 points (5G, 9A) in 21 games.

Hockey Canada announced the 17 men’s 1996-born hockey players that were chosen by the Canadian Olympic Committee to represent Canada at the 2012 Youth Olympics back in October. The games take place between January 13th and 22nd with the men’s hockey event featuring five countries – Canada, Austria, Finland, Russia and the United States. Canada opens up the games Friday, January 13th against Russia.

(From Esther Madziya, Hurricanes Media Relations)

Thanks,
Pat