The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League are proud to announce that defenseman Adam Pelech (Pell-eck) is one of 28 players who will represent Team Canada at the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge in August.

A native of Toronto, Pelech rebounded after an early-season injury and was a steady influence on the blue line, collecting 20 points in 44 games. He was the first player in OHL history to receive the Ivan Tennant and Bobby Smith Awards for academic excellence in April.

At the Otters Annual Awards Banquet in April, Pelech took home Player of the Year and Defenseman of the Year honors, joining Chris Campoli as the only defensemen to be named as Otters Player of the Year.

Pelech has had considerable experience at the international level, winning gold medals with Canada and Team Ontario at the 2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka and the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, respectively.

He also helped Canada win a bronze medal at the World Under-18 Championships in the Czech Republic, the country’s first medal at the event since 2008. Pelech served as an assistant captain and was named by opposing coaches as one of Canada’s top three players at the tournament.

The 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge is a collaboration between Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League, Halifax Mooseheads and Halifax Trade Centre Limited, which will see Canada and Russia’s national junior programs face off in four games, two in Russia and two in Canada, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Summit Series. The series begins August 9 in Russia and concludes August 14 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Canada’s roster, comprised of three goaltenders, 10 defensemen and 15 forwards, was selected by Kevin Prendergast, head scout of the men’s Program of Excellence for Hockey Canada, along with Hockey Canada senior director of hockey operations and national teams Scott Salmond, and the team’s coaching staff, comprised of head coach Steve Spott, Mario Duhamel, Don Nachbaur and André Tourigny.

- From Erie Otters news release

TORONTO – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced Wednesday the 22 players who will comprise Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y. from Dec. 26-Jan. 5.

Hockey Canada’s senior director of hockey operations and national teams, Scott Salmond, head scout Kevin Prendergast, head coach Dave Cameron (Mississauga, OHL) and the coaching staff named the final roster at the conclusion of a four-day selection camp, which included two Red-White intrasquad games and a 6-2 win over a CIS all-star team on Tuesday night in Toronto.

Four of the players named on Wednesday are returning players – Jared Cowen (Allan, Sask./Spokane, WHL), Calvin de Haan (Carp, Ont./Oshawa, OHL), Ryan Ellis (Freelton, Ont./Windsor, OHL) and Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon, Sask./Brandon, WHL), helped Canada earn the silver medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask.

Ellis also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ontario, and will become only the seventh player all-time to represent Canada at three IIHF World Junior Championships (Jason Botterill, Jay Bouwmeester, Eric  Lindros, Trevor Kidd, Martin Lapointe, Jason Spezza).

CHL Players:

Goaltenders:

Olivier Roy, Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs

Defencemen:

Tyson Barrie, Kelowna Rockets

Jared Cowen, Spokane Chiefs

Simon Desprès, Saint John Sea Dogs

Calvin de Haan, Oshawa Generals

Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires

Erik Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs

Forwards:

Carter Ashton, Regina Pats

Casey Cizikas, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Brett Connolly, Prince George Cougars

Sean Couturier, Drummondville Voltigeurs

Cody Eakin, Swift Current Broncos

Marcus Foligno, Sudbury Wolves

Curtis Hamilton, Saskatoon Blades

Quinton Howden, Moose Jaw Warriors

Ryan Johansen, Portland Winterhawks

Zack Kassian, Windsor Spitfires

Louis Leblanc, Montreal Juniors

Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings

Canada’s National Junior Team will remain in Toronto until Friday, when it will move its home base to Niagara Falls, Ont. All of Canada’s on-ice sessions at the Gale Centre are open to the public free of charge.

Canada’s National Junior Team will play in three pre-competition games in southern Ontario prior to the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship, including games against Switzerland (Dec. 20 in Oshawa), Sweden (Dec. 21 in Toronto) and Finland (Dec. 23 in Kitchener). While the games in Oshawa and Kitchener are sold out, there are still tickets available for the game in Toronto on December 21.

Canada will play its first game of the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26 in Buffalo versus Russia, a game that will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on The FAN Radio Network (check local listings). Canada has medaled at twelve straight IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold medal performances in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, silver medals in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2010 and bronze medals in 2000 and 2001.

- From CHL news release