Lethbridge Hurricanes Forward Giorgio Estephan was one of 22 players
named by Hockey Alberta and BC Hockey to the 22 man roster for Team Pacific at
the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. In 21 games this season, Estephan has
8 points (4G, 4A) for the Hurricanes.
Team Pacific is
comprised of 14 players from BC and nine players from Alberta. Hockey Alberta
and BC Hockey each identified 23 U17 male athletes (3 Goalies, 7 Defensemen, and
13 Forwards) to take part in the Team Pacific Summer Camp that took part in
Calgary, Alberta on July 24th-28th. Following the Summer
Camp, these players were evaluated during the first part of their club’s team
season by a Team Pacific evaluation group.
“The selection
process for this team was very in-depth and the coaching staff feels very
positive about the roster that’s been assembled,” said Team Pacific Head Coach,
Steve Hamilton. “We think this is a very deep team with a good combination of
skill, size and character – all the elements needed to play a versatile
game.”
The 2014 World
U17 Hockey Challenge brings together the top players in the world born 1997 or
later. The tournament is made up of 10 teams; five (5) from Canada – Quebec,
Ontario, Pacific (Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon),
Atlantic (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward
Island) and West (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut) and five (5) international
teams.
Team Pacific
will be competing in Group A at the World U17 Hockey Challenge with Team West,
Team Quebec, Sweden and Czech Republic. Group B will comprise of Germany, USA,
Team Ontario, Team Atlantic and Russia. Team Pacific will play an exhibition
game against Russia on December 28, 2013 before they play their first
preliminary round contest against Team Quebec on December 29,
2013.
Team Pacific has
included some of the top hockey players that Canada has ever produced. Some
notable graduates who have competed on Team Pacific
include:
- Matt Dumba, Morgan Reilly, 2011
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2010
- Evander Kane, 2008
- Brent Seabrook, Dion Phaneuf, Mike Green, 2002
- Jarome Iginla, 1994
- Joe Sakic, 1986
Much deserved for Estephan. This should give our future star a lot of confidence. He will probably have a lot of really good games starting with a hat trick of his own this weekend!?
ReplyDeleteRe: Versteeg: So much for his goal of "Winning a Stanley Cup with Flordia." I guess he will have to settle for winning another one with Chicago. Maybe he can strike up some conversations with J. Toews and B. Seabrook to get that offer to purchase the Canes going.
Ok, for the umpteenth time, (nothing against KV and his group) but there is no guarantee that he would be able to purchase the Hurricanes. The WHL board of Governors have the final say. All you have to do is look back at the history of the recent purchase of the Saskatoon Blades that went to an Edmonton businessman rather than a group of NHLers.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of upside to Georgio, in fact he as been one of the most consistent faceoff men for the Canes.
Dump'n Chase
There is a precedent that the WHL set a numbers of years ago when former blazers and a businessman partner were approved as new owners in Kamloops.
ReplyDeleteI understand the Versteeg group might be structured in a very similar way to the Kamloops group. On what basis could the league or Board of Governors deny the Versteeg group? Why in the world would the other owners not welcome with open arms the Versteeg group?
The missing piece is the shareholders' preference as to the type of ownership model here. I have been informed it would take a 75% shareholders vote in favor of pursuing private owners to put the team up for sale. I continue to wonder how the shareholders feel and what result a vote on this matter would produce.
In the meantime let's keep cheering on the boys. I've got time for a hard working hockey team!
Barry Knapp