Raiders’ Mark McNeill joins Team Canada
Prince Albert SK – Prince Albert Raiders forward Mark McNeill has been recalled by Team Canada for the upcoming 2013 World Junior Hockey Championships in Ufa, Russia.
The Edmonton, Alberta native leads the team in scoring with 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points in 35 games so far this season, including 3 game winning goals. The Raiders captain has recorded 5 points in 6 games during the month of December.
An 18th overall draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011, McNeill has previously dawned the Red and White, representing Team Pacific at the 2010 Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded 3 points in 5 games.
McNeill and Canada kick off the tournament against Leon Draisaitl and Team Germany on Boxing Day. The tournament will be televised on TSN.
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HELSINKI, FINLAND – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced Friday that forward Charles Hudon of the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Saguenéens will not be able to play for Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship due to an injury. Hudon will be replaced by forward Mark McNeill of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.
McNeill, from Edmonton, Alta., has represented Canada at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championship in Crimmitschau and Dresden, Germany and also played for Team Pacific at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Timmins, Ontario. McNeill was a first round selection, 18th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
McNeill will join the team in Finland on Dec. 22, while Hudon will return to Canada on Dec. 23.
Canada’s National Junior Team will play a final pre-competition game Saturday against Sweden in Helsinki at 9am ET/6am PT. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS. Check local listings for the time in your area.
Canada will open the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship on December 26 against Germany at 4:30am ET/1:30 am PT.
For more information on the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_teamcanada.