Red Deer, AB - The Team Pacific Management Committee, (BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Western Hockey League and Hockey Canada) announced on Friday the roster of players selected to compete at the U17 Pacific Region Summer Camp July 25-29, 2012 in Kamloops, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 2011 Bantam Draft picks (F) Reid Duke, Tyler Wong, (D) Roman Melzer and (G) Jonny Hogue were among the players named to the roster.  

Hockey Alberta and BC Hockey each identified 34 U17 male athletes (4 G, 12 D, 18 F) from their respective provincial evaluation camps to participate in the joint regional camp. From the regional camp, players will be scouted with their club teams until November when the Team Pacific Management Committee announces the 22 player roster that will represent Team Pacific at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, December 28, 2012 - January 4, 2013 in Victoriaville/Drummondville, Quebec.

The 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will bring together the top players in the world born in 1996 or later. The tournament is made up of 10 teams; five (5) from Canada - Quebec, Ontario, Pacific (Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon), Atlantic (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) and West (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut), and five (5) International teams.

At the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ontario Team Pacific finished in 5^th place after defeating Quebec 5-4 in overtime.

Team Pacific has included some of the top hockey players that Canada has ever produced.  Some notable graduates who have competed on Team Pacific include:

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Team Pacific 2010
• Evander Kane, Team Pacific 2008
• Brent Seabrook, Team Pacific 2002
• Dion Phaneuf, Team Pacific 2002
• Mike Green, Team Pacific 2002
• Jarome Iginla, Team Pacific 1994
• Joe Sakic, Team Pacific 1986

The Under 17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence. Many players who compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge go on to represent Canada with the National Men’s Under 18 Team, National Junior Team and National Men’s Team.