Prospect update: U-17 camps

Last week I listed the Everett prospects who were invited to their provincial U-16 camps. Now we know who all has been invited to the U-17 camps as well.

Players from B.C. and Alberta are trying out for Team Pacific for the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. Three Everett prospects were among the 46 players invited to the camp: B.C.-based defensemen Kevin Davis and Noah Juulsen and Alberta-based forward Matt Fonteyne. Davis was Everett’s first-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft, Fonteyne was a third rounder, and Juulsen was a fourth rounder. All three have already signed education contracts with Everett and made the WHL debuts as 15-year-olds. What’s particularly notable is that neither Juulsen nor Fonteyne made his province’s team for last year’s Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup, so their stock is rising.

Meanwhile, players from Saskatchewan and Manitoba are attempting to make Team West for the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. Tips goaltender Nik Amundrud was among the 34 players selected from Saskatchewan, while goaltender Mario Petit was among the 34 players selected from Manitoba. Amundrud, a third-round bantam pick, has already signed with Everett. Petit went unselected in the 2012 bantam draft, but was listed by the Tips.

Team Pacific’s camp is July 24-28 in Calgary. Team West’s camp is Aug. 7-11 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The 2014 World Junior Hockey Challenge is Dec. 29-Jan. 4 in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.