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

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League are proud to announce that forward Stephen Harper is one of 40 players invited by Hockey Canada to attend Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp, August 3-6 at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto, Ont.

Harper last played on the international stage at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ont., where he won a bronze medal with Team Ontario. Harper scored two goals in five games during the tournament.

In his first OHL season with the Otters, Harper collected 24 goals and 11 assists, sharing team Rookie of the Year honors with Connor Brown. Harper’s 24 goals were the most among 1995-born players in the OHL last season.

The roster includes four goaltenders, 12 defensemen and 24 forwards. The players, born in 1995 and 1996, were selected by Hockey Canada head scout Kevin Prendergast, in consultation with head coach Todd Gill and assistant coaches Yanick Jean and Scott Walker.

“These players are the cream of the crop of under-18 talent in Canada, and it’s going to be exciting to see them battle for 22 roster spots,” Prendergast said. “As it is every year, there were some tough decisions to get down to 40, and they’ll be even tougher decisions to make to finalize the roster.”

The camp roster includes 17 players from the Ontario Hockey League, 13 from the Western Hockey League and 10 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Of the 40 players who have been invited to the selection camp, 22 will be selected for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, which will play in the 2012 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, scheduled for August 13-18 in Piestany, Slovakia and Breclav, Czech Republic.

Otters defenseman Adam Pelech won a gold medal with Team Canada at last year’s Memorial of Ivan Hlinka.

Also participating in the selection camp is Otters equipment manager Mike Hildenbrand, who is set to begin his third season with the Otters after stints with the Windsor Spitfires and ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings.

- From Erie Otters news release

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League have announced that defenseman Adam Pelech will participate in the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which will take place Wednesday, February 1 in Kelowna, British Columbia.

The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 17th annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL draft eligible players featuring talent from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The two-day event also features an exciting skills competition and three-on-three challenge taking place on Tuesday, January 31.

Pelech is the first Otters defenseman to participate in the Top Prospects Game since Brian Lee in 2002 and is the 14th player from Erie selected to play in the game. Andrew Yogan (2010), Ryan O’Reilly (2009), Nick Palmieri (2007) and Zack Torquato (2007) are some of the recent players to have participated in the Top Prospects Game.

In an injury-shortened season, Pelech has excelled with six assists and a plus-two rating in eight games. He appeared in all but three games last season and was selected as the team’s Rookie of the Year at the Annual Summer Awards Banquet in June. Pelech has also won gold medals at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with Team Ontario and at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka with Team Canada.

- From Erie Otters news release

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Ontario Hockey Federation, announced Wednesday that Windsor, Ontario, will host the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge from December 29, 2011, to January 4, 2012.

This will mark the sixth time in the 26-year history of the tournament that it will be held in Ontario.

The 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will follow the same format as previous years – five Canadian entries (Atlantic, Ontario, Pacific, Quebec, West) will be joined by five international teams, with two groups of five teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, while the remaining three teams from each group will cross over for placement games.

The 27-game tournament will be centered out of the WFCU Centre, home of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, but will feature games in partner venues. The tournament host committee is currently working with communities in the Windsor area to determine which will host satellite games. The Windsor region has successfully hosted a number of hockey events, including the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, the SUBWAY OHL All-Star Classic, and the SUBWAY Super Series.

Ticket information for the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be released later in the summer.

“The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, as the first step of the Program of Excellence, is one of Hockey Canada’s most important events,” says Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “We have no doubt Windsor will do a first-class job in hosting the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2012.”

Hockey Canada originally awarded the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, along with the 2011 tournament, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, in October 2009. The 2011 tournament was a tremendous success, setting a record for single-game attendance with 12,060 at the MTS Centre for the gold-medal game.

However, with the recent awarding of an NHL franchise to the City of Winnipeg and True North Sports and Entertainment, Hockey Canada and True North mutually agreed for True North to put its focus on the return of the Jets and made the decision to relocate the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Windsor joins Sudbury (1992), Kitchener (1998), Timmins (2000, 2010) and London (2008) as Ontario host cities for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Last season 79 players from the Canadian Hockey League participated in the 2011 event in Winnipeg, MB, including 20 Ontario Hockey League players that captured gold with Team Ontario in a 5-3 win over the United States.

- From CHL news release

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Chris Marchese and Adam Pelech capitalized on a golden opportunity.

The Erie Otters rookies captured gold Tuesday night, as Team Ontario topped the United States 5-3 in the championship game of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge at MTS Centre.

Neither recorded a point in the game. Marchese finished the tournament with two goals and six points in six games. Pelech had one point and two penalty minutes. Ottawa’s Sean Monahan, who sent unbeaten Ontario to the title game with the winning goal in overtime against Quebec on Monday, snapped a 3-3 tie 7 minutes, 13 seconds into the third period against the U.S. He also scored in a three-goal first period. Sudbury’s Matthew Campagna scored on a penalty shot with 4:02 left to seal the victory.

What: Niagara IceDogs (23-9-2-2) at Erie Otters (18-18-1-1)

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points), RW Shawn Szydlowski (18-15-33), RW Anthony Luciani (13-20-33), G Ramis Sadikov (18-14-1-1 record, 2.95 goals-against average, .911 save percentage, 2 shutouts), C Phil Varone (14-15-29)

Niagara – C Ryan Strome (22-32-54), C Andrew Agozzino (24-19-43), C Alex Friesen (18-23-41), LW Darren Archibald (22-16-38), G Dalton McGrath (5-1-0-0, 2.29, .921)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters enter their first home game of 2011 – and first since a 3-2 win against Sudbury Dec. 18 – with a 1-2 record in the second half. They lost in Plymouth and Saginaw before salvaging the final game of a three-game West Division trip in Windsor. … The slow second-half start has dropped the Otters into eighth in the Western Conference. … The Otters are 9-8-0-1 at home, only slightly better than their 9-10-1 road mark. They finished the first half with two losses in three home games. … The Otters and IceDogs meet twice in the next eight days after not having played since the IceDogs’ 5-4 home win Sept. 30. … C Mike Cazzola (10-16-26 in 20 games) rejoined the lineup Friday after a two-month absence with a broken wrist. … Rookie LW Chris Marchese (3-7-10), rookie D Adam Pelech (1-5-6, plus-1) likely won’t rejoin the team in time for tonight’s game. They played for Team Ontario in the gold-medal game of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. … Sadikov’s franchise record of consecutive starts stands at 28 games. … The Otters are 10-1 in games when Varone scores a goal. … McKegg has one point in three second-half games. He remains among the OHL’s top five in points and the top 10 in goals. … D Tyler Hostetter (broken hand) returned to Erie Monday after a five-week rehabilitation stint at home in Lititz, Pa. He skated for the first time Tuesday and hopes to rejoin the lineup by the end of January.

Niagara – The IceDogs have won two straight and five of their last six games. … They are second to Eastern Conference-leading Mississauga St. Michael’s in the Central Division and third in the conference. … The IceDogs are one of only three teams (Guelph, Ottawa) with five 15-goal scorers (Strome, Agozzino, Friesen, Archibald and LW Freddie Hamilton 15). … Strome is tied for fifth in scoring with McKegg. … Strome and Agozzino are among the top 15 in goals. … They rank eighth in the OHL with 138 goals scored and second with 100 goals against. … They will play without top G Mark Visentin (13-4-2-2, 2.30, .921, 1 SO), who is representing Canada in tonight’s gold-medal game against Russia at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo. … McGrath has won five of his six games in Visentin’s place. … They are among the top 10 on the power play (20.5 percent) and penalty kill (80.9).

Up next: at Kitchener (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), vs. Kingston (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters rookies Chris Marchese and Adam Pelech will play for gold tonight, as Team Ontario faces the United States in the 8:30 p.m. final of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge  in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Ontario advanced with a 2-1 OT win against Quebec on Monday. The U.S defeated Pacific 6-5 in OT on Monday. Both teams enter the final with a 5-0 record. Marchese is tied for the team lead with six points (two goals, four assists). Pelech has one point and two penalty minutes.

Erie Otters rookies Chris Marchese and Adam Pelech will represent Team Ontario at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, set for Dec. 29-Jan. 4, 2011, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Marchese, 16, the 11th overall pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, has three goals and seven points in 20 games. Pelech, 16, the club’s second-round pick, has a goal, five points and a minus-2 rating in 22 games. They are the 12th and 13th Otters to play in the tournament, including current players David Broll, Brett Cook, Chris Festarini and Greg McKegg.

This international event features five regional teams competing from across Canada and five international teams from Finland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and the United States. Team Ontario will play in a conference against Team Atlantic, Team Pacific, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Team Ontario will begin their quest for gold on Dec. 28 with an exhibition game against Finland and will play their first game of the round-robin series against the Czech Republic on Dec. 29. The bronze and gold medal games will be played on Jan.4.

Here are the 21 OHL players on the team:

Goaltenders:

Jake Patterson, Saginaw Spirit

Defensemen:

Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough Petes

Jesse Graham, Niagara IceDogs

Gianluca Curcuruto, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Adam Pelech, Erie Otters

Alex Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs

Marcus McIvor, Brampton Battalion

Matthew Finn, Guelph Storm

Forwards:

Matia Marcantuoni, Kitchener Rangers

Brendan Gaunce, Belleville Bulls

Scott Laughton, Oshawa Generals

Brody Silk, Sudbury Wolves

Justin Kea, Saginaw Spirit

Matthew Campagna, Sudbury Wolves

Garrett Hooey, Sarnia Sting

Sean Monahan, Ottawa 67’s

Kerby Rychel, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Jarrod Maidens, Owen Sound Attack

Chris Marchese, Erie Otters

Andreas Athanasiou, London Knights

Thomas Wilson, Plymouth Whalers

Alternates: G Matthew Murray (Plymouth Whalers) and D Luke Mercer (Niagara IceDogs).

Team Ontario Staff:

Robert Kitamura, Director of Operations

Jake Grimes, Head Coach (Belleville Bulls)

Troy Smith, Assistant Coach (Kitchener Rangers)

Jeff Reid, Assistant Coach

Dan Buckland, Head Trainer (Sudbury Wolves)

Matt Sands, Equipment Manager (Belleville Bulls)

Victor Carneiro, Assistant Director (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

- Victor Fernandes, OHL news release

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League are proud to announce that forward David Broll has been selected to Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, set to take place in the Czech Republic and Slovakia August 9-14.

Broll was one of 13 Ontario Hockey League players to make the 22-man squad after participating in a selection camp with 40 other players last weekend in Calgary. “It feels too good to be true,” Broll said of his selection. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet but I am very excited and I can’t wait to represent Canada.”

In his rookie year, Broll collected nine goals and nine assists in 64 games with the Otters. The first round pick of the Otters in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection represented Team Ontario at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The native of Mississauga will hope to match what former Otter Ryan O’Reilly did for Canada in the same tournament in 2008, when O’Reilly led his country to a gold medal.

- From Erie Otters news release

The Team Ontario Under-17 Program is holding a final camp July 6-10 in Oshawa, Ontario, featuring 77 players that were selected in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, including five prospects from the Erie Otters.
Forwards Chris Marchese, Connor Crisp, Luke Cairns and Drake Caggiula and defenseman Adam Pelech will represent the Otters at the selection camp. The Otters have been well represented at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, with David Broll (2009), Ryan O’Reilly (2008) and Brett Cook (2008) all skating for Team Ontario.
The camp is hosted by the Ontaro Hockey Federation with representation from the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association and Hockey Northwestern Ontario.
The camp will serve as a key evaluation for the selection of Team Ontario that will compete at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which takes place December 29th to January 4th in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Team Ontario captured gold in the 2008 event in London, Ontario, and the 2009 event in Port Alberni, British Columbia, before falling to the United States in the finals last season in Timmins, Ontario, with a roster that included 20 OHL players.

- From Erie Otters news release