Local goaltender Ben Gaudreau and Battalion forward Liam Arnsby were recognized this week by Hockey Canada, as Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 team announced that they were among the 13 OHL players invited to attend the 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup training camp which was scheduled for early August in Edmonton-Red Deer.
However, back on April 28, Hockey Canada announced the event was being suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis.
“It is important for Hockey Canada to recognize the work the players and coaching staff already put in to prepare for the summer and a chance to compete for gold on home ice,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey Canada in a release.
“It was a difficult decision to cancel the tournament, as it provides the opportunity to showcase the top under-18 players in a best-on-best international showcase. We want to recognize the 46 players and our three coaches for this tremendous accomplishment, and we look forward to watching all players continue to develop as they look ahead to next season and a chance to compete at the IIHF U18 World Championship.
With the cancellation of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Hockey Canada's focus will now turn to the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship next spring; a host city has not yet been announced. The Czech Republic and Slovakia will host the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup before it returns to Edmonton and Red Deer in 2022.
Arnsby, a 2019 first-round pick by the Battalion, netted four goals along with 16 assists for 20 points in 55 games last season. He also had one assist in six games with Team Canada White at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge last fall in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Gaudreau, a 2019 first-round pick by the Sarnia Sting, got into 28 games with the OHL club last year and finished with a 4.11 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage. The former Trappers star netminder also played four games for Team Canada Black at the Under-17 event last fall.
