MOUNT PEARL, N.L. — Mount Pearl’s Zach Dean of the Gatineau Olympiques has been singled out as one of 40 of the country’s top under-18 hockey players, judging by the recently released list of players who were invited to try out for Hockey Canada’s national men’s summer U18 team.
That squad had been set to play in the eight-team Gretzky-Hlinka Cup Aug. 3-8 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.
The tournament, which is named after Wayne Gretzky and former Czech Republic star player and coach Ivan Hlinka was cancelled on April 28 due to COVID-19. Six goaltenders, 14 defencemen and 26 forwards were chosen to try out for the Canadian squad. Late last week, Hockey Canada released names of the players who would have been invited to the selection camp as a way of spotlighting their achievements.
“It is important for Hockey Canada to recognize the work the players and coaching staff already put in to prepare for... a chance to compete for gold." — Scott Salmond
“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 news 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.”
The team’s coach was to have been Louis Robitaille, recently named Gatineau’s new coach and general manager.
Dean, a 17-year-old centre with the Olympiques, was named to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s all-rookie team this season following an 18-goal, 28-assist, 46-point campaign. He was also a finalist for the Michel Bergeron Award as the league’s top offensive rookie and played in the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat, Alta., and Swift Current, Sask., last November.
Here are the first year #QMJHL players that stood out the most during the 2019-2020 season and solidified a spot on the League’s Rookie All-Star Team! 🤩 #GoldenPuck
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 22, 2020
Hockey Canada will send a team to the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation’s U18 World Championship next spring.
The Czech Republic and Slovakia will play host the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup before it returns to Edmonton and Red Deer in 2022.