Hockey Manitoba is pleased to announce the names of the 2011 U-17 Program of Excellence/Team West Summer Evaluation Camp roster. Forty (40) male players born in 1994 have been selected to attend the Program of Excellence (P.O.E.) Summer Evaluation Camp in Brandon, MB, June 17-20, 2010.

TheU-17 Summer Evaluation Camp this season will be a first for the program in it’s new format. Last year Hockey Manitoba added the U-16 program to the P.O.E. in which the 1994 group competed as Team Manitoba last fall at the Western Canadian U-16 Challenge Cup in Alberta. Therefore, the U-17 no longer has a P.O.E. Spring Evaluation Tournament but rather all 1994 born players were evaluated through the entire 2009-10 hockey season resulting in 40 invites directly to the U-17 P.O.E. Summer Evaluation Camp.

The 40 players invited will fight for only 11(Manitoba) spots on Team West. The roster will be completed with11 players from Saskatchewan who will then compete as Team West at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg, MB from December 28, 2010 – January 4, 2011.

Team West will look to improve on their 8th place finishat the 2010 event in Timmins, ON and feel there is a good core of players to compete with. Team West last won a medal in 2008 (London, ON) with a Bronze and last won Gold in 2005 (Lethbridge, AB) led by Jonathan Toews. The Head Coach of Team West is Garth Mitchell (Elkhorn), who is the Head Coach of the Yellowhead Chiefs of the MMHL (Midget AAA). Garth’s Assistant Coach will be David Anning (Winnipeg) who is an assistant with the Dauphin Kings (MJHL). The Saskatchewan Hockey Association will select two additional assistants to round out the Team West coaching staff. Later this week Hockey Manitoba will also announce the U-18 (Female) Summer Evaluation Camp roster.

CLICK HERE FOR U-17 SUMMER CAMP ROSTER

CLICK HERE FOR U-17 SUMMER CAMP ICE SCHEDULE

Hockey Manitoba proudly recognizes Canad Inns – Your Destination Centres as the Official Partner of the Program of Excellence. To learn more about the Program of Excellence pleasevisit our website; www.hockeymanitoba.ca/poe.php.