Only One manitoban makes the cut for canada
Hockey Canada announced its 22-player National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team roster on Tuesday evening. The 22 Canadians will represent their country from August 5 to August 10 in Edmonton at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Among the 22 players selected, one is from the center of Canada. Peyton Kettles will be the lone Manitoban at this year's U18 Championship, representing his hometown of Winnipeg.
The 6 '4', 185-pound blueliner finished his first full season in the Western Hockey League with two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in 61 games with a Manitoban-loaded Swift Current Broncos team.
Kettles spent his first season of minor AAA hockey with the Winnipeg Sharks before playing on all three of the Rink Hockey Academy Winnipeg’s teams (U15, U16, U17) to finish out his minor hockey career before joining the WHL.
Kettles has also represented the U16 Team Manitoba at the WHL Cup and will be the second time the Winnipeg native has represented his country, after appearing in seven games for Canada Red at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Prince Edward Island.
Kettles was one of five WHL defencemen who competed for a spot on Team Canada, while fellow Manitoban Cole Temple was ultimately cut after a strong performance at the selection camp.
Canada will look to repeat the success of last year's gold medal team led by Berkly Catton, Cayden Lindstrom, and Brandon Wheat Kings Charlie Elick and Roger McQueen.
Canada will play Slovakia on August 1, then open its round robin schedule on August 5th when it takes on the Suisse.
Semifinal action is slated for Friday, August 9, with medal games scheduled for Saturday, August 10.
Canada has won 24 gold medals in 32 years of summer under-18 competition, along with three silver medals and one bronze.
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