WINNIPEG, MB – Hockey Manitoba is pleased to announce the Under-17 prospects for Team West who will attend the Program of Excellence (POE) Top-40 Camp, held May 26-29, 2011 in Winnipeg. This camp is the first official phase of the selection process for these athletes who will contend for spots to play in the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will once gain be held in Winnipeg and surrounding area, December 28, 2011 to January 4, 2012.

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The forty Manitoba born players invited to the POE Top-40 Camp have been scouted throughout the winter and spring of 2011, which includes all 20 members of theU-16 Team Manitoba roster who competed at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, NS. Out of the forty players attending this camp, only 11 will be named to the final Team West roster in November along with 11 players named from Saskatchewan. Leading the U-17 program in Manitoba will be Don MacGillivray (Winnipeg) who will be an assistant coach of Team West, joined by video coach Ray Neufeld (Winnipeg). Leading up to the World U-17's, MacGillivray and Neufeld will work with the Team West head coach and another assistant coach as appointed by the Saskatchewan Hockey Association.

Later this week Hockey Manitoba will also release the U-18 Female player selected to attend the POE Top-40 Camp.

To learn more about the Program of Excellence please visit www.hockeymanitoba.ca/poe.php. Hockey Manitoba is pleased to recognize Canad Inns, CCM Hockey, and Reebok Hockey as Official Partners of the Program of Excellence.