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Warriors Mateychuk named to U18 national team development camp

Standout defenceman one of only two returnees from 2021 world championship gold medalists
Mateychuk action
Denton Mateychuk in action with the Warriors in the Regina hub last season.
Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Denton Mateychuk didn’t see a lot of ice time during Canada’s run to the gold medal at the 2021 Under-18 World Hockey Championship this past spring.

If everything goes according to plan, that’ll change in drastic fashion when Canada returns to defend their title in Germany next spring.

Mateychuk is one of 45 players — 17 from the Western Hockey League — who have been named to the National Men’s Under-18 Team Summer Development Camp at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on the Tsuut’ina First Nation near Calgary.

Mateychuk was the only Moose Jaw player named to the camp, and will be joined by Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard as the only returnees from the gold medal team.

“This stage of our Summer Showcase is about bringing together the top under-18 players in Canada to work and learn from an elite-level coaching staff, giving them the necessary skills for their hockey development to grow and succeed,” said Alan Millar, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada and the Warriors' former general manager. “We have an opportunity to connect with the players through on- and off-ice sessions to give them the tools that will only enhance their skill set as they advance through our program and prepare for the upcoming season.”

Warriors goaltending coach Matt Weninger will return to the team after helping guide Canada’s impressive crew of netminders to gold last spring.

Mateychuk enjoyed a breakout rookie season with the Tribe, scoring twice and picking up nine points over 16 games in the Regina hub. His offensive production was only a small part of the story, though, as the 5-foot-11, 192-pound rearguard emerged as a stalwart presence in the Warriors zone despite being only 16 years old.

He was named to Team Canada as an injury replacement for Winnipeg Ice defenceman Carson Lambos and saw action in three games but didn’t hit the scoresheet.

The camp selection comes as an early birthday present for Mateychuk, as he turns 17 on July 12.

Through the 11-day event, players will be split into two teams and will participate in practices and intrasquad games. The camp will also feature combined practices and intrasquad games with the National Junior Team on Aug. 2-3.

The summer camp is typically used to evaluate and select Canada’s roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but Canada will not participate in this year’s event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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