NEWS

Aurora Tigers AP Travis Barron and Georgetown Raiders AP Adam Mascherin headline a list of six OJHL affiliated minor midgets that have been invited to Hockey Canada's National Under-17 Development Camp in Calgary, Alberta.

Adam Mascherin (pictured left - photo credit: Kevin Sousa/OJHL Images), captain of the Vaughan Kings Minor Midgets 'AAA,' joined the Georgetown Raiders at the tail-end of the 2013-14 season, playing five regular season and eleven post-season contests.  The diminutive forward did not just suit-up for the Raiders, but impressed many by recording 12 points in the five regular season games, including a six point outing versus Toronto.  Mascherin also notched another six goals and eight points in Georgetown's drive to the South-West Conference Championship Series.

Travis Barron (pictured right - photo credit: Amy Deroche/OJHL Images), captain of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens Minor Midgets 'AAA,' also joined the OJHL with the Tigers at the tail-end of the 2013-14 season, playing five regular season and five post-season games thus far.  After posting one assist during his regular season trial run, Barron notched his first junior hockey goal during a pivotal 3-1 game three victory over Kingston in the North-East Conference Championship Series.  Adding to a two assist effort in game one, Barron ultimately helped the Tigers finish as OJHL runner-up to the league champion Toronto Lakeshore Patriots.

Below are other OJHL AP's who will be attending the camp:

• Jonathan Ang (F) - Whitby Fury
• Cole Candella (D) - Milton Icehawks
• Sam Dunn (D) - Cobourg Cougars
• Cameron Morrison (F) - Aurora Tigers

Congratulations to all six and best of luck in Calgary!

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

 Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced Tuesday the 96 skaters who have been invited to attend Canada’s national under-17 development camp, July 29 to Aug. 4 at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary. 

The roster includes 36 defencemen and 60 forwards. 

The players invited to camp were selected by Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada's head scout of men's national teams, together with regional scouts Donald Audette (Quebec), Brad McEwen (West), Kevin Mitchell (Atlantic) and Darryl Woodley (Ontario) with input from Hockey Canada regional branch representatives. Players were evaluated throughout the season with their club teams, and at three regional under-16 events: the Western Canada U16 Challenge, OHL Gold Cup and QMJHL Excellence Challenge.

Sixteen under-17 goaltenders have been invited to the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence goaltending camp, June 11-14 in Calgary. From this camp, 12 netminders will be added to the under-17 development camp to complete the roster.

The development camp will serve as part of Canada’s new under-17 structure, focusing on player development. Scouts will continue to watch these players, along with other 1998-born players across the country, and 66 will be selected to represent Canada at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which is scheduled for Oct. 31 to Nov. 8 in a yet-to-be-determined location. The tournament will be the first to feature three Canadian national teams (Black, Red and White). From 1986 to 2014, Canada was represented by five regional teams: Atlantic, Ontario, Pacific, Quebec and West.

“At Hockey Canada, we are very excited about the possibilities that lie ahead within our national teams with the changes we have instituted at the under-17 level,” said Scott Salmond, senior director, hockey operations with Hockey Canada. “It is our intention to identify potential national team players at an earlier age and have them play together more often.”

All 96 skaters have been drafted or listed by CHL teams, including 35 from the Ontario Hockey League, 32 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and 29 from the Western Hockey League.

Canada’s national under-17 summer development camp roster, by branch:

B.C. Hockey – 8
 Hockey Alberta – 13
 Saskatchewan Hockey Association – 2
 Hockey Manitoba – 5
 Ontario Hockey Federation – 32
 Hockey Eastern Ontario – 4
 Hockey Quebec – 24
 Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador – 2
 Hockey Nova Scotia – 6

The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will bring together the top players in the world born in 1998 or later. The under-17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence. Many players who compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge go on to represent Canada with the National Men’s Under-18 Team, National Junior Team and National Men’s Team.

Since the first under-17 tournament (then known as the Quebec Esso Cup) in 1986, more than 1,300 NHL draft picks have played in the tournament, including 10 of the last 13 first-overall selections (Ilya Kovalchuk, 2001; Rick Nash, 2002; Marc-André Fleury, 2003; Alexander Ovechkin, 2004; Erik Johnson, 2006; Patrick Kane, 2007; John Tavares, 2009; Taylor Hall, 2010; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011; Nathan MacKinnon, 2013).

For the full camp roster, please CLICK HERE.