Merritt, BC – March 31, 2011
The Merritt Centennials, along with the BCHL, are pleased to announce that 18-year-old defenceman Brandon Pfeil will represent Canada at the 2011 Russian Invitational Tournament in Podolsk, Russia. Pfeil is one of 20 BCHL players selected to wear the Maple Leaf at the event.
For the first time ever, 20 BCHL players will wear the Maple Leaf and represent Canada at the 2011 Russian Invitational Tournament in Podolsk, Russia.
Canada will be one of four teams at the event which also features the Russian National Junior Team, a Russian Select Team and the Slovakian National Junior Team. Hockey Canada was invited to enter a squad after being contacted by Russian goaltending legend Vladislav Tretiak.
“We are incredibly proud that Brandon has been chosen to make this trip and wear the Team Canada jersey to not only represent his country but also the entire Centennials organization,” said Cents Head Coach & GM Luke Pierce. “Brandon got better and better as the season went on and he deserves to be among the elite players chosen to compete in such a prestigious international tournament.”
Podolsk is a town of over 180,000 people situated about 50 kilometres south of Moscow. Each team in this event will play in three games in a round-robin format. The team with the most total points at the end will be declared the winner. Canada?s games are on April 15, 16 and 17 but it is not yet known which team will provide the opposition on which date.
Team Canada will practice both in Vancouver and in Russia as well as play exhibition games before the Tournament. Canada will be led by 2011 BCHL Interior Conference coach of the year Tim Kehler of the Salmon Arm SilverBacks and General Manager Ron Paterson of the Surrey Eagles. The team leaves on April 8 and returns on April 19.
