NEWS RELEASE
COLLINGWOOD BLUES
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There is a love story that just keeps on getting better between the town and its Canadian Junior Hockey League national champion Collingwood Blues.
The Junior A World Challenge takes place in Camrose, Alberta December 9-15.
Two teams from Canada (East and West) will take on teams from the U.S. and Sweden.
Thirty of the best players from across the CJHL were chosen to attend the Canada East try-out camp December 3-6 in Calgary, and 23 of these will be suiting up in Camrose.
Hockey Canada plucked the coach, the equipment manager and seven players from the Collingwood Blues.
Coach Andrew Campoli will be the assistant to Bruce Richardson behind the bench for Canada East, and Richard Judges, known for his unique skills, will be the equipment manager.
Campoli was thrilled with the honour.
"I am truly honoured to join Team Canada East as an assistant coach for the World Junior A Challenge," he said. "Representing Canada on the international stage is a dream come true, and I'm excited to work alongside an incredibly talented group of players and coaches. It's an incredible opportunity and I cannot wait to get started in Camrose."
The seven Blues players selected for the Canada East team include: Goalie Noah Tegelaar, recently named the OJHL goaltender of the month, defencemen Cameron Eke, Nolan Egelton and Hudson Martin and forwards Marcus Lougheed, Ethan Facchina and Jack Rimmer.
The Blues are currently in a tight race for first place in their division.
General Manager Mike Tarantino, the architect of the team, was asked how the Blues will adapt for the five games in December without their coach and seven of his best players.
"Playing five games without our head coach, equipment manager and potentially seven players will bring some challenges, but ultimately some opportunities as well," he said. "We are lucky to have very capable affiliated players who we feel can jump into the lineup if that becomes necessary."
Near capacity fan support has been helping the team do well, and next month's schedule promises more excitement for the Eddie Bush arena.
Home games are December 6, 20 and 22.
Come out and be part of the love story.
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