Ryan Oulahen of the North Bay Battalion has been named an assistant coach with Canada Black for the 2015 World Under-17 Challenge, Hockey Canada announced last week.
Oulahen, an assistant with the Ontario Hockey League’s Battalion, will work under head coach Marco Pietroniro of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Also assisting will be Trevor Letowski, former coach of the Sarnia Sting.
This is the second year that Canada will be represented by three teams, designated Red, Black and White, rather than five regional entries.
The event will take place this fall in Sault Ste. Marie from October 31st to November 8th.
The selection camp is to be held July 29-Aug. 4 at Calgary, with 108 players invited, 66 of whom will be chosen to play on one of the Canadian teams.
“It’s a great honour to represent your country and, working with the elite athletes for that age group, it’s a chance to work with the best we have in Canada in terms of players and obviously a great chance to also work with some real quality coaches,” said Oulahen to Battalionhockey.com.
“I’m just excited for the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge.”
Oulahen was an assistant with Canada Red in the eight-team tournament last November at Sarnia and nearby Lambton Shores.
The squad posted a won-lost-extended record of 2-2-1 and finished sixth in the tourney, which Russia won with a 2-1 decision over the United States in the championship game.
“Marco was with the program last year, so I did get to meet him and worked a little bit with him at the summer camp in Calgary. And Trevor, obviously coaching against him, him being in Sarnia, I’ve seen him around the rink. I’m excited to get together with both those guys and get going.”
Oulahen, a onetime Battalion captain in Brampton, said the new approach by Hockey Canada last year required adjustments.
“It was a brand new format, and I think a lot of guys who were involved last year learned a little bit about bringing guys, at a young age, from all over the country together for one tournament. I think that’s always going to be the challenge.
“For me last year was kind of a foot in the door, and this year I really wanted to continue with that program. You have so much honour for Hockey Canada that you really want to do anything you can to get into the program. I definitely wanted to apply again this year and was lucky enough to get chosen.”
Centre Zach Poirier, the Battalion’s first-round pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, played in the tournament last year for Canada Black, which went 2-2-1 and finished seventh. Poirier led the team with three goals.
