Battalion forward Liam Arnsby, former Trappers goalie Ben Gaudreau and Powassan product Connor Punnett are among 24 OHL players who will be representing Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Hockey Canada announced earlier in the week.
A total of 66 skaters and goaltenders will be divided into three teams – Canada Red, Canada White and Canada Black – to compete against the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States from Nov. 2-9 at the Western Hockey League centres of Medicine Hat, Alberta and Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Arnsby, the Battalion’s first-round pick in the OHL Priority Selection last April from the Don Mills Flyers minor midgets, has one goal and one assist for two points in nine games. The five-foot-10, 172-pound resident of Ajax, Ont., turns 16 on Nov. 20.
“It’s awesome, all the great guys who have gone through there, and just the experience to go out there and play,” Arnsby, who has skated at centre and right wing, said Wednesday.
“It’s going to be amazing.”
Stan Butler, director of hockey operations and head coach, said, “We’re really happy that he’s going to get that opportunity.”
The OHLers consist of 18 forwards, five defencemen and one goaltender, in Corbeil resident Benjamin Gaudreau, who was the first-round choice of the Sarnia Sting in April from the North Bay Trappers midgets.
Connor Punnett, who is from Powassan and was a first-round pick of the Saginaw Spirit, has no points in five games so far this season with the OHL club.
Eighteen of the players were chosen in the first round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
