The Telegraph-Journal today reports that the Saint John Sea Dogs forward will suit up for Team Slovakia at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo, New York.
Slovakia will play in the weaker Pool A with the United States, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland. Canada, meanwhile, will participate in the tougher Pool B featuring Sweden, Russia, Norway, and the Czech Republic.
Slovakia's first game is Monday, December 27 against Germany. They then play the US the following evening. The team plays Switzerland December 30 and Finland on New Years Eve.
Last week, Slovakia announced the European portion of their training camp roster. According to NHL.com, “that list will be trimmed to 15 following a training camp that starts Dec. 6 in Bratislava. The remaining players and the coaching staff, including coach Stefan Mikes, will fly to the U.S. and join eight Slovakian players currently starring in the Canadian Hockey League to play a pre-tournament schedule in Jamestown, N.Y., starting Dec. 16. Slovakia will play exhibition games against Russia, Norway and the United States, and then will finalize its roster.”
NHL.com also reports that three-of-the-eight players joining the team from the CHL will be from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Times & Transcript reports that Moncton Wildcats forward Marek Hrivik will join the club. EliteProspects.com states that there are currently eight Slovakian players in the QMJHL. The website also has Adam Janosik of the Gatineau Olympiques placed on Slovakia's WJC roster.
Selected fourth overall by Saint John in the 2009 CHL Import Draft, Jurco enjoyed a solid rookie campaign, recording 26 goals and 25 assists in 64 regular season contests. In the Sea Dogs’ march to the President’s Cup final, the import registered seven goals and 10 assists in 21 matches.
In 29 games this season, the soon-to-turn-18-year-old has 17 goals and 15 assists.
Jurco could be one-of-three Sea Dogs to participate at the World Juniors this year. Simon Despres will be leaving later this week for Team Canada’s selection camp in Toronto. The Telegraph-Journal also reports today that Russian forward Stanislav Galiev “hopes to get the same news early this week.”
Emily B. from the Washington Capitals blog Japers’ Rink sent us the Russian training camp roster this weekend. Training camp begins tomorrow in Russia and runs until the 18th. Galiev’s name appears on the list, but the Telegraph-Journal article would seem to indicate that he is not attending.
The roster features seven players from the CHL with Galiev being the only player chosen from the QMJHL.
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