Kelowna Rockets captain Colton Dach is likely skating on cloud nine.
He is one of 11 current and former Western Hockey League (WHL) players chosen to represent Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B.
READ MORE: Kelowna Rockets captain gets the call to Team Canada hockey camp
Hockey Canada announced the national junior team roster on the afternoon of Dec. 12.
Dach, who was taken in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, was the only Rockets player invited to camp.
Colton Dach is headed to the #WorldJuniors with @HockeyCanada! 🍁 https://t.co/c5Mj8wB2bL pic.twitter.com/xuRVUv4agb
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) December 12, 2022
Two players from the Kamloops Blazers, Logan Stankoven and Caedan Bankier also made the squad, along with four members of the Seattle Thunderbirds, and one invitee each from the Everett Silvertips, Regina Pats, and Vancouver Giants.
Dylan Guenther, of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, has also been named to the team.
The Canadian roster features four WHL returnees from the team that captured a gold medal at the 2022 World Junior Championship in Edmonton this past August.
The 2023 World Junior Championship is scheduled to be played from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.
Canada’s first game is Dec. 26 against Czechia, which will see Dach facing off against Rockets teammate Gabriel Szturc.
READ MORE: Kelowna Rocket headed to Czechia camp
@GaryBarnes109
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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