Hockey Alberta has named its top 26 players moving on after an intense week-long provincial U17 camp in Calgary from July 9 – 15, 2007. These athletes are vying for one of the 11 spots available for Team Pacific which will be competing at the World U17 Hockey Challenge in London, Ont. from Dec. 29 – Jan. 4, 2008.

"I thought the selection process went very well and we were able to identify the players which we believe will be the top prospects in December," said Doug Fleck, head coach, Team Pacific.

This year’s squad will comprise of the top 22 U17 aged athletes from Alberta and British Columbia. During the next four months, evaluations will be made on each player to determine the top 11 players in Alberta. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association will name their selections through their Best Ever Program.

"Over the next few months we will be watching them play and we will select our final 11 at that time," said Fleck.

The World U17 Hockey Challenge is the unofficial World Championship for this age level and the first stage for Hockey Canada to identify players for the National U18 Team and the World Junior Team.

In addition to the five Canadian teams (Pacific, Western, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic), there will be five international teams from Slovakia, USA, Russia, Germany and Finland. In the past, Team Pacific has captured 4 straight silver medals (2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006) and fourth place in 2006 at the U17 World Hockey Challenge.

Recent Team Pacific Alumni includes: Brandon Sutter (2006), Thomas Hickey (2006), Keaton Ellerby (2005), Devin Setoguchi (2004), Dan Bertram (2004), Shawn Belle (2002), Jeremy Colliton (2002), Dion Phaneuf (2002), Dan Blackburn (2000), Matthew Spiller (2000), Jeff Woywitka (2000) and Scottie Upshall (2000).

Individual head shots are available of the Alberta athletes by request.

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