Sherwood Park, AB: Earlier Tuesday morning, Team Canada West announced their list of 44 players invited to their camp in Calgary ahead of the World Junior A Challenge.
Three out of the 44 players named to the selection camp were Michael Benning (University of Denver), Carter Gylander (Colgate University), and Carter Savoie (University of Denver). Savoie and Benning both earned camp invites last season but did not make the team. This will be Gylander’s first Team Canada West invite.
Michael Benning has got off the a great start to begin the season. The St Albert, Alberta, native has 36 points (6 goals, 30 assists) in 25 games this season and looks well on his way to beating his career high of 61 points. Benning is committed to the University of Denver for the 2021-22 season and, earlier this season, was ranked as a “C” prospect for the the 2020 NHL Entry draft.
Much like his teammate Benning, Carter Savoie is also committed to the University of Denver but for the 2020-21 season. Savoie is only two goal away to surpassing his tally from last season with 29 goals so far this year in 25 games which leads the AJHL. He was ranked as a “B” prospect on the latest NHL watch list.
Both Benning and Savoie are assistant captains for the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
Between the pipes, Carter Gylander has been rock solid in his 16 games this season. He holds a 15-1-0 record and has a 2.11 GAA along with a 0.922 SV%. This past summer, Gylander was draft 191st overall by the Detroit Red Wings at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He is also committed to Colgate University for the 2020-21 season.
The Team Canada West camp will take place from December 1st to the 3rd at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport?s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. The World Junior A Challenge then gets underway on December 7th in Dawson Creek, British Colombia.
Fans can catch the Crusaders in action again this Saturday the Sherwood Park Arena versus the Olds Grizzlys. Tickets are available here.