KELOWNS - Kelowna Rockets defenceman Damon Severson is one step closer to his dream of playing at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

Severson's name was among those that were announced by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League on Monday. 25 players have been invited to attend Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp, beginning Dec. 12 at the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence in Etobicoke, On, and Severson is among the eight defenceman vying for a spot on Team Canada.

The roster includes two goaltenders, eight defencemen and 15 forwards. Canada’s final roster for the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmö, Sweden, will include 22 players, and must be finalized by Dec. 25.

Rockets captain Madison Bowey, just 18, was not named to the tryout roster for the tournament, traditionally an event for 19-year-olds. Bowey played in both recent Subway Super Series games.

Nine of the players invited to the selection camp are from the Western Hockey League, including Severson, the 19-year-old Melville, SK native. Severson has six goals, 15 assists and is plus 10 in 22 games with the Rockets this year.

Also on the invite list is Edmonton Oil Kings’ defenceman Griffin Reinhart, who played for Canada’s national junior team 1t the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship as well as  former Red Deer Rebels defenceman Mathew Dumba, who is currently playing in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild.

“Hockey Canada is looking forward to an extremely competitive camp in December, as we look to assemble a team that will make all Canadians proud,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior director of men’s national teams and hockey operations. “This is a first step towards naming our roster for the IIHF World Junior Championship. We look forward to the camp getting underway.”

"On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League, congratulations and best of luck to all of the players named to Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp," said CHL President David Branch. "The CHL is very proud of our partnership with Hockey Canada and we look forward to watching our players and coaches represent our league at the World Junior Championship in Sweden."

“On behalf of the Program of Excellence management group, I would like to thank Ryan Jankowski for all his work,” said Bruce Hamilton, a member of the Program of Excellence management group. “I would also like to make note of the great contributions of the other members of the management group, Sean Burke, Mark Hunter and Joel Bouchard, who have provided great insight and leadership throughout.”

WHL PLAYERS NAMED TO CANADA NJT SELECTION CAMP ROSTER:

Defencemen:
**Mathew Dumba, Red Deer Rebels (Currently with Minnesota Wild)
Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders
Derrick Pouliot, Portland Winterhawks
Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton Oil Kings
Damon Severson, Kelowna Rockets

Forwards:
Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings
Taylor Leier, Portland Winterhawks
Nicolas Petan, Portland Winterhawks
Sam Reinhart, Kootenay Ice
Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers

News from © iNFOnews, 2013