Andrew Ryan, shown in this file photo, has been named to Team Atlantic for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. So have fellow Newfoundlanders James Melindy of Goulds and Travis Champion of Bishop’s Falls. — Telegram file photo

Andrew Ryan chose to attend Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Sask., based on the recommendation of a friend.

He's glad he did.

In a telephone interview Tuesday, Ryan, a Grade 10 student at the school, said "everything is about hockey up here. That's pretty much what everybody comes here for."

Last season - as a still-bantam-aged 14-year-old - he played in the provincial major midget league with St. John's Fog Devils, collecting seven goals and 27 points. Ryan, who attended Holy Spirit High School in Paradise, said his buddy James Melindy influenced his decision to come to Notre Dame.

Melindy, a six-foot-two, 170-pound defenceman from Goulds, is in his second year with the famed Notre Dame Hounds.

Both Ryan and Melindy, along with Travis Champion of Bishop's Falls, have been selected to Team Atlantic for the 2010 World Under-17 Challenge, set for Dec. 29-Jan. 4 in Timmins, Ont.

"I was really pleased to hear I'd made the team and I'm looking forward to (the tournament)," said Ryan, who got the good news Tuesday.

"So far, I'm having a pretty good season (four goals, 12 assists in 15 games)," said the left-winger, who stands close to six-foot-three and tips the scales at 181 pounds.

"The hockey is really good. Everybody is here for the same reason and that's what makes it so good. I've been skating with a lot of really good players and that's one of the things that's led to my success. We play in one of the best leagues in Canada."

And, oh yeah, there's the NHL connection.

"It seemed like a great place because it has a great name for producing (NHL) hockey players," noted Ryan.

Graduates from the Hounds hockey program include Vinny Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Wendel Clark, Rod Brind'Amour and Gord Kluzak. Los Angeles Kings' forward Teddy Purcell, another former St. John's major midget player, also attended Notre Dame, as did Newfoundland's Dwayne Norris, who played briefly in the NHL and represented Canada at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Melindy was the top drafted Newfoundlander in last year's Quebec Major Junior Hockey league (QMJHL) draft (34th overall by Moncton Wildcats) and Ryan, who is eligible for the 2010 QMJHL draft, said he is "thinking about the QMJHL route.

"But I haven't decided yet."

Team Atlantic's roster includes nine players from New Brunswick, six players from Nova Scotia and four from Prince Edward Island. David Curnew of St. John's is the team's general manager.

Team Atlantic will depart for Timmins on Dec. 26 and play an exhibition game Dec. 28 against Finland prior to playing its first tournament game against the United States on Dec. 29. Team Atlantic will also face off against Team Pacific, Czech Republic and Russia in the round-robin portion of the tournament.

jbrowne@thetelegram.com