The Canadian Black team will be looking to make it three straight wins Tuesday night, while the Team Canada Red squad hopes to improve to 2-1 Tuesday evening as the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge resumes in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, British Columbia.
Three Newfoundlanders — Alex Newhook and Brett Budgell of St. John’s, and Dawson Mercer of Bay Roberts — are playing in the event.
The U17 Challenge features eight teams, including three from Canada (Black, Red and White) along with the United States, Russia, Czech Republic, Sweden and Finland.
The Black team beat the Czechs 5-0 Monday, with the help of Newhook’s goal and two assists. Newhook is currently playing for the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League, and is committed to attending Boston College.
Mercer, who is playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, is also playing for the Black squad. One of the Black team’s assistant coaches is Travis Crickard of St. John’s, who is an assistant coach for the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets.
The Canadian Black team, which beat the Canadian White team 1-0 Sunday, plays the U.S. Tuesday night.
The Canadian Red team registered a 7-2 win over Sweden Monday, following a 4-2 loss to the Finns Sunday.
Budgell, who is part of the Red team, plays for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey Leaque, and is said to be looking towards the NCAA,
The Reds are slated to play Russia Tuesday night.
