NEWS

(pictured - Netminders Ben Blacker of the Milton Icehawks and Michael McNiven of the Georgetown Raiders shake hands following their OJHL South-West Conference opening round series - photo credit: Brian Watts/OJHL Images)

OJHL netminders Ben Blacker of the Milton Icehawks and Michael McNiven of the Georgetown Raiders have both been invited to Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence Goaltending Camp in the Under-18 category, along with six other goalies from the CHL, from June 11-14, 2014 in Calgary, Alberta.

Ben Blacker (Milton Icehawks)
The native of Oakville, Ontario, who is committed to Western Michigan University for 2015,finished the 2013-14 season with a 16-13-1 record including a .911 save percentage while also competing at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge for Team Canada East and the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge for Team Ontario.  Blacker would be named an OJHL 2nd Team All-Prospect, as well as to the OHA's Top Prospect Team.

Michael McNiven (Georgetown Raiders)
The 16-year old native of Georgetown, Ontario was assigned to his hometown Raiders early in the season by the Ontario Hockey League’s Owen Sound Attack, after being selected by the club in the 4th round, 66th overall, of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  McNiven would post a 21-10-0 record, the league’s sixth best win total, with five shutouts, tied for the most in the OJHL with two-time Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month Kevin Entmaa from Aurora.  In 35 games played, the 6’1”, 170 lbs. netminder posted a 2.60 goals against average, sixth best in the league, and a .916 save percentage, which was seventh best.  McNiven would be named an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect.

Congratulations to both on the recognition and best of luck at the camp!

Below is the official press release and list from Hockey Canada's website (www.hockeycanada.ca):

Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Monday the 34 goaltenders that will attend the ninth annual Program of Excellence goaltending camp, taking place June 11-14 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

Ten goaltenders in the under-20 age category (candidates for Canada’s National Junior Team), eight in the under-18 category (candidates for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team) and 16 under-17 goaltenders (candidates for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge) will get the opportunity to work with a number of instructors during the four-day camp.  

UNDER-20 GOALTENDERS (1995-1996)

Eric Comrie     Edmonton, Alta.    Tri-City (WHL)
Philippe Desrosiers     Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.    Rimouski (QMJHL)
Zachary Fucale    Laval, Que.     Halifax (QMJHL)
Tristan Jarry    Delta, B.C.     Edmonton (WHL)
Julio Billia    St. Léonard, Que.     Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Mackenzie Blackwood    Thunder Bay, Ont.     Barrie (OHL)
Alec Dillon     Victoria, B.C.    Victoria (BCHL)
Ty Edmonds    Winnipeg, Man.    Prince George (WHL)
Mason McDonald    Halifax, N.S.    Charlottetown (QMJHL)
Brent Moran     Orleans, Ont.    Niagara (OHL)

UNDER-18 GOALTENDERS (1997)
Ben Blacker    Oakville, Ont.    Milton (OJHL)
Callum Booth     Montreal, Que.     Quebec (QMJHL)
Zach Bowman    St. Catharines, Ont.    Plymouth (OHL)
Nick McBride    Maple Ridge, B.C.     Prince Albert (WHL)
Michael McNiven    Georgetown, Ont.    Georgetown (OJHL)
Zachary Sawchenko     Calgary, Alta.    Moose Jaw (WHL)
Troy Timpano    Pickering, Ont.    Sudbury (WHL)
Olivier Tremblay    Chicoutimi, Que.    Rimouski (QMJHL)

UNDER-17 GOALTENDERS (1998)
Stephen Dhillon    Buffalo, N.Y.    Buffalo (OMHA)
Evan Fitzpatrick    Lower Sackville, N.S.    Newbridge Academy (NSMMHL)
Mark Grametbauer     Halifax, N.S.    Cole Harbour (NSMMHL)
Samuel Harvey    Alma, Que.    Jonquière (LHMAAAQ)
Ryan Kubic    Winnipeg, Man.    Winnipeg Thrashers (MMAAAHL)
Jack Lafontaine    Mississauga, Ont.    Don Mills (GTHL)
Olivier Lafrenière    Bradford, Ont.    York Simcoe (OMHA)
Jake Lawr    Mono, Ont.    Halton (OMHA)
Austin McGrath    Lloydminster, Alta.    Lloydminster (AMHL)
Reilly Pickard    Halifax, N.S.    Halifax (NSMMHL)
Joseph Raaymakers    Chatham, Ont.    Chatham-Kent (MHAO)
Stuart Skinner    Edmonton, Alta.    Edmonton SSAC (AMHL)
Daniel Toews    Chase, B.C.    Thompson (BCMML)
Tyler Wall     Leamington, Ont.    Sun County (MHAO)
Dylan Wells    St. Catharines, Ont.    Niagara (OMHA)
Brody Willms    Coquitlam, B.C.     Okanagan Hockey Academy (CSSHL)

“There is tremendous goaltending talent in Canada, and we’re excited to bring Canada’s best young netminders to Calgary to work with some of the top instructors in the game,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior director of hockey operations/national teams. “This camp is a fantastic opportunity for these goaltenders to prepare for international competition.”

The camp will include both on-ice and off-ice sessions for all three groups. The U18 and U20 netminders will be led by Fred Brathwaite (Hockey Canada) and Sean Burke (Hockey Canada), along with instructors Lyle Mast (Tri-City, WHL), Eric Raymond (Halifax, QMJHL), Michael Rioux (Rimouski, QMJHL), Dustin Schwartz (Edmonton, WHL) and Jimmy Waite (Chicoutimi, QMJHL).

Five members of the Hockey Canada goaltending advisory board will also work with the U18 and U20 groups: Corey Hirsch (Hockey Canada), Bill Ranford (Los Angeles, NHL), Brady Robinson (Victoria, WHL), Dwayne Roloson (Anaheim, NHL) and Rick Wamsley (Ottawa, NHL).

David Marcoux (Hockey Canada) will lead the U17 program on the ice, with assistance from coaches Ian Gordon (Seattle, WHL), and Andrew Verner (Peterborough, OHL).

Hockey Canada will also host 11 goaltending coaches nominated by their respective branches to take part in the on-ice and off-ice programming with the U17 goaltenders. In addition to the U17 camp activities, the 11 instructors will also be participating in a seminar aimed at providing them with the resources to deliver similar Program of Excellence goaltending camps at the branch level.

The camp will be open to the public, free of charge.