EVERETT — When the call first came early Monday morning, Ryan Murray slept through it.
But a groggy Murray answered the second time his phone rang, and he was more than happy to have his sleep interrupted.
The call informed the Everett Silvertips defenseman he’s getting a shot at representing his country at the highest level of junior hockey, receiving an invitation to Canada’s selection camp for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships.
“I was definitely very excited when I found out,” Murray said. “I got the call this morning at 7 o’clock and I was pretty pumped when I got it.
“There’s only a select few that are able to go, so I wasn’t too sure if I was going to get invited or not,” Murray added. “I’m just glad that I did and hopefully I can go down there and make that team.”
Murray, a 17-year-old from White City, Saskatchewan, was one of 39 players invited to compete for the 22 roster spots. He was one of 12 defensemen selected for what will likely be seven roster spots.
The selection camp takes place Dec. 12-15 in Toronto. World Juniors take place Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Buffalo, N.Y.
“He’s a fantastic player,” Everett associate head coach Jay Varady said about Murray. “He’s been working incredibly hard so far this season and it’s a great opportunity for him. We’re so excited and wish him the best.”
Murray, who has two goals and nine assists in 26 games for Everett this season, was the youngest player selected to the camp, and he was one of just three 17-year-olds invited for what is an under-20 tournament.
Despite his youth, Murray already has plenty of experience playing for Canada in international competition. Last offseason he played for Canada’s under-18 team both at the U-18 World Championships in April and the U-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August. He was the youngest player on Canada’s roster at both tournaments, and he captained the team to the gold medal at the Hlinka tournament.
“You don’t really see too many 17-year-olds selected to try out (for World Juniors),” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said. “It’s a nice honor for Ryan. It’s well-deserved and he’ll make the most of it.”
Murray faces a significant challenge to make the team. In addition to his youth, Murray also has to contend with the fact that Canada has three defensemen returning from last year’s team. But Soetaert thinks Murray has a shot.
“I think he’s right in the mix,” Soetaert said. “They have three returning defensemen and they’ll carry seven, and there are some very talented defensemen to choose from. It’s going to be a battle, but (Murray) will go and do what he can, and we’ll see where the cards fall.”
Only one Everett player has ever made Canada’s roster for World Juniors. Goaltender Leland Irving was a member of the 2007 team that won the gold medal, but Irving never appeared in a game.
Because of the selection camp, Murray will miss the final game of Everett’s six-game road trip through the East Division, on Dec. 11 at Prince Albert, then will miss the home game against Vancouver on Dec. 15. If Murray makes the team he’ll miss at leas five more of Everett’s games.
Injury update
Everett will receive a boost for tonight’s home game against Kootenay as captain Landon Ferraro is set to make his return. Ferraro, Everett’s speedy center who has five goals and eight assists in 18 games, missed the past eight games because of a concussion. Also eligible to return is center Manraj Hayer, who missed the past four games with his own concussion. Winger Campbell Elynuik remains out with a shoulder injury, but he has recovered enough to take part in practice on a limited basis.
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