The event acts as one of the first stages for players to crack the three Hockey Canada teams that see action in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, currently slated to take place in Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I. in November.
“The national under-17 development camp is the first stage in introducing these athletes to the Program of Excellence, and it is a great opportunity for them to develop as players and learn what it takes to wear the Maple Leaf,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams with Hockey Canada, in a press release. “Our three under-17 teams are very fortunate to have these nine experienced coaches, and we know our coaching and support staffs will embrace the opportunity to guide the development of the top young players in Canada.”
Mateychuk, 15, was the Warriors’ first pick, 11th overall, in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, and it didn’t take long for the 5-foot-9, 170 pound rearguard to turn heads at training camp as he quickly showed off the agility and puck sense that had him high on many a team’s draft list.
The Brandon product would go on to have a solid rookie season in the Manitoba U18 AAA league, scoring 13 goals and 30 points in 30 games for the Eastman Selects.
Mateychuk also saw action in seven games with the Warriors, scoring his first WHL goal in only his second contest in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Kelowna Rockets. He was named the first star of the contest.
Moose Jaw AAA Warriors goaltender Dylan Ernst in action during the WHL Cup this past season.Ernst, 16, completed his first season of U18 with the AAA Warriors this past winter and posted a 2.35 goals against average and .920 save percentage in 17 games to go along with a 12-4-0 record and three shutouts. He was the Kamloops Blazers second round selection, 28th overall in the 2019 Bantam Draft and played his first WHL game against the Calgary Hitmen on Feb. 22, taking over for the final 2:18 and not facing a shot in a 6-4 loss.
The duo were also teammates for a week this past season, as they suited up for Canada’s bronze medal-winning squad at the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mateychuk would finish with a goal and two points in four games, while Ernst played one game, coming off the bench and allowing only two goals in a 6-2 loss to Russia.
Ernst and Mateychuk aren’t the only Moose Jaw connection at the event, either.
Warriors and Legends Hall of Famer Kelly Buchberger, now head coach of the Tri-City Americans, will serve as the head coach of Team Canada White, while former Warriors defenceman Kris Mallette, now the head coach in Kelowna, will work as the assistant coach for Team Canada Red.
A total of 113 players were named to the camp, including four goaltenders, 11 defencemen and 20 forwards from the WHL. The week-long virtual camp will see players split into six teams, participating in a variety of sessions with a focus on player development through online education.
