Hodnett, Hill and McKnight to Represent Canada at U-17 Hockey Challenge
October 18, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Edmonton Oil Kings News Release
Edmonton, AB – The Edmonton Oil Kings will have three representatives at the upcoming World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Langley and Delta, B.C next month.
Oil Kings first-year forward Gavin Hodnett has been selected to play for Team Canada White.
The Winnipeg, MB product has tallied five assists in nine games so far this season with the Oil Kings. He was selected in the first round, 19th overall, by the club at the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft last December.
Last season as an affiliate player with the Oil Kings, he dressed in five regular season games, adding two assists while also getting into one post-season game during the team’s run to capturing the 2022 WHL Championship.
Joining Hodnett on Team Canada White will be Oil Kings President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kirt Hill who will serves as the team’s Director of Operations.
Oil Kings Head Athletic Therapist Jimmy McKnight will serve as the Athletic Therapist for Team Canada Red at the tournament.
Both Hill and McKnight took part in last year’s substitute U-17 tournament, the Capital City Challenge, while Hodnett is getting the opportunity to represent Canada for the first time in his career.
This year’s World Under-17 Challenge will feature three Canadian teams (Canada White, Canada Red and Canada Black), along with teams from Czechia, Finland, Sweden and the Unites States.
Each team will play six preliminary-round games between November 3 and 11, with the top four teams in the standings advancing to the medal round.
The Langley Events Centre will host 16 games, including three all-Canadian matchups and both medal round games on November 12. The seven remaining games will be played at Delta’s Sungod Arena, beginning with Team Canada White facing Sweden on November 3.
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