Four (4) BC players are part of the team representing Team Canada at the 2013 World Junior Championship from December 26, 2012 to January 5, 2013 in Ufa, Russia.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Burnaby), Tyler Wotherspoon (Surrey), Griffin Reinhart (West Vancouver) and Morgan Rielly (West Vancouver) were selected to the team.
Nugent-Hopkins was the first overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft by the Edmonton Oilers, where he played last season. During the 2011-2012 season, he racked up 18 goals and 34 assists for 52 points in 62 games with the Oilers.
Over the past few years, Nugent-Hopkins has had the opportunity to play in numerous Hockey Canada events. He finished fifth with Canada’s National Men’s team at the 2012 IIHF World Championship, attended Canada’s National Junior team development camp in 2011, attended Canada’s National Junior team selection camp in 2010, won a gold medal with Canada’s National Men’s Summer U18 team at the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka and finished fifth with Team Pacific at the 2010 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
Wotherspoon was chosen by the Calgary Flames in the second round of the 2011 NHL entry draft and is currently a defender for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
So far this season, he has scored three (3) goals and has 20 assists in 29 games.
Wotherspoon played for Team Pacific at the 2010 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge, where the team finished fifth.
Reinhart is a defender for the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings and was selected fourth overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders.
So far this season, he has racked up four (4) goals and 10 assists in 31 games. Reinhart has had the opportunity to gain valuable experience from numerous Hockey Canada events.
These include: a member of the Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge, won a gold medal with Canada’s National Men’s Summer U18 team at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament and captained Team Pacific to a bronze medal at the 2011 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
Rielly was selected fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2012 NHL entry draft and is currently a defender for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL.
In 33 games so far this season, he has seven (7) goals and 21 assists. Rielly joins the team with plenty of Hockey Canada experience under his belt.
He was a member of the 2012 Canadian National Junior team, won gold with Canada’s National Men’s Summer U18 team at the 2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, played for Canada’s National Men’s 18 team at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championship where they finished fourth and won a bronze medal with Team Pacific at the 2011 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
