Whalers Forward Tom Wilson Named to Canadian Under-18 Team

Plymouth Whalers forward Tom Wilson will start his 2011-12 season a little earlier than most.

Wilson, 17, was named to Canada's National Under-18 team that will play in the upcoming 2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament, a tournament featuring the top players in the world at the age of 17.

Release from Hockey Canada:

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Tuesday the 22 players who will play for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, August 8-13 in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia.

The roster was finalized Tuesday following Hockey Canada’s four-day selection camp at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary. The camp included daily practices and three Red-White intersquad games.

Canada’s roster is made up of 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders. Head coach Steve Spott (Waterloo, Ont./Kitchener, OHL), assembled the roster with support from assistant coaches Mario Duhamel (St-Bruno, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL) and Don Nachbaur (Kitimat, B.C./Spokane, WHL), Kevin Prendergast, Hockey Canada’s head scout for the men’s Program of Excellence, and Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations/national teams.

See the rest of the release.

See the complete Team Canada roster.

In addition, current Whalers draft choice Ryan Lowney (12th round, 2010) has been selected to play for Team USA.

Peter Krupsky works as the director of communications for the Plymouth Whalers.