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Local top Battalion pick hoping to make Team Canada

'Being able to participate and try out for a spot on one of the three teams is very exciting'
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Battalion first round pick Pacey Schlueting is hoping to make one of three Team Canada squads that will play in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in New Brunswick this fall. Photo by Tom Martineau/BayToday.ca

For the second straight year, a local product has been invited to Hockey Canada’s National under-17 development camp in Calgary in late July.  

Pacey Schlueting, who was taken in the first round of the OHL Priority Selection by the North Bay Battalion this spring, will be among the 111 players invited to the week-long camp which includes 12 goaltenders, 36 defencemen and 63 forwards.  

The Battalion will also be represented by 2018 2nd round picks in the form of goaltender Joe Vrbetic and forward Cameron Peters. 

Last year North Bay native and Battalion prospect Payton Vescio, who played with the Powassan Voodoos last season, attended the Team Canada camp. 

Schlueting says it’s a huge honour to have the opportunity to play for Team Canada. 

“Being able to participate and try out for a spot on one of the three teams is very exciting,” said Schlueting.  

“When I got the call from Hockey Canada I was thrilled to hear that I would be going to Calgary in the summer because this is the first step in making the trip to the World Juniors. There is going to be lots of good players there but I’m very confident and I think it’s going to be a great experience for me and I can’t wait to get started.” 

Of the 111, a total of 66 will be chosen to play for Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red, and Team Canada White.  

The three Canadian squads will compete at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge scheduled for Nov. 3-10 in Saint John and Quispamsis, New Brunswick.   

“The national under-17 development camp provides a unique opportunity for players to learn about what it takes to be part of Team Canada alongside the best young talent in the country,” said Shawn Bullock, Hockey Canada’s senior manager of hockey operations and men’s national teams. 

“The players are here with the ultimate goal of wearing the Team Canada jersey in international competition, and we are supporting them in that goal by providing the on- and off-ice experiences they need to develop and grow as high-performance athletes.”


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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