When Team Canada West faces off at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge in Penticton, B.C.next week, the squad's bid for a fifth consecutive medal appearance will be boosted by the presence of a trio of National Hockey League draft picks.
Even more exciting for the hometown fans in attendance is that two of those rising stars — Mark MacMillan and Brendan O'Donnell — will be moonlighting from their regular roles with the British Columbia Hockey League's Penticton Vees.
MacMillan and O'Donnell, along with Florida Panthers draft pick Benjamin Gallacher of the AJHL's Camrose Kodiaks, will be expected to play key roles on a 22-player roster that will be looking to avenge back-to-back silver medal finishes after capturing gold in 2007 and 2008. Canada West has appeared in the Championship Game at all four previous World Junior A Challenges.
O'Donnell and Gallacher are both returnees from last year's squad that came up just short against the United States in Summerside, PEI. O'Donnell, then a member of the Winnipeg South Blues, was a high profile offseason acquisition by the Vees after the Tampa Bay Lightning selected him in the sixth round of the 2010 Entry Draft.
MacMillan, meanwhile, anjoyed a breakout rookie season as a member of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs playing with older brother (and 60-goal scorer) Mitch. A Penticton native, Mark was picked up by the Vees after having his name called by the Montreal Canadiens during the fourth round of the draft in June.
To meet their goal of winning gold on home soil, MacMillan and Co. will have to overcome a strong U.S. entry that boasts six NHL-drafted players and projected 2011 first round pick Seth Ambroz. But he and his fellow drafted teammates will have a strong cast to lean on, including 2010 returnees Clarke Breitkreuz, Madison Dias, Grayson Downing, Joey Laleggia and Ryan Marshall.
“Our staff has worked tirelessly to watch players from the five western leagues over the first few months of the season and we are confident we have a good mix of players to help us regain the gold medal,” said Canada West coach Larry Wintoneak. “We're looking forward to getting on the ice in Penticton as we prepare as a team to get back to the gold medal game.”
Canada West will play in Group B at the event in a round-robin group that includes Russia and Switzerland. Round-robin play runs through November 10th with two semi-finals set for November 13th. The gold-medal game, which will be shown nationally on TSN, is scheduled for November 14th.
