It will be cool rinks on hot summer days for Victoria Royals defenceman Gannon Laroque and Victoria Grizzlies forward Matthew Wood with invitations to Canada selection camps.
Laroque, named Royals captain for the 2022-23 Western Hockey League season and signed to an NHL entry-level contract by the San Jose Sharks, is invited to the Canadian junior team camp July 23-27 in Calgary. The players will be evaluated for inclusion on the national team for the 2023 world junior championship tournament in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B., from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.
“This is exciting and my first opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf national team jersey, and I’m going to keep working hard and stick to my core values, and be ready to go,” said Laroque, among 14 blueliners to get the call.
Of the 44 players invited, 17 are from the WHL.
Wood, whose breakout rookie season in the B.C. Hockey League included winning the league scoring title, will skate in the 44-player Canada U-18 selection camp July 20-27 in Calgary for the national side that will compete in the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup from July 31-Aug. 6 in Red Deer, Alta. It is considered the true world U-18 championship since the official IIHF world tournament takes place at a time in the spring when Canada can only send players from teams that have missed their playoffs. All players are available for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
“There are a lot of great players across the country and this camp will be a tremendous opportunity,” said Wood, the Nanaimo product projected for the first round of the 2023 NHL draft.
“It’s an honour to be invited. Being out there with such players pushes you and elevates your game even more.”
Wood was part of the Canadian team that competed in the IIHF world U-18 championship in April at Germany, along with Royals players Brayden Schuurman and Kalem Parker.
“It’s a little different style, and you need more awareness in the international game,” said Wood.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
