BROOKS, AB – Brooks Bandits defenceman Jarrod Gourley (Calgary, AB) has been named to Team Canada White for the upcoming World U-17 Hockey Challenge, it was announced today.
The 16-year old defenceman is one of only two players in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) selected to one of the three Canadian entries at the annual tournament, featuring the best under-17 aged hockey players from six different countries.
Gourley was signed by the Bandits in late June just after being invited to Hockey Canada’s Development Camp for the event, as one of only four Albertan defencemen at that camp. In nine games with the Bandits so far this season, Gourley has recorded one goal and 20 penalty minutes.
The 6’1”, 195lb defenceman is a graduate of the Calgary Buffalo Hockey Association (CBHA) Rangers Minor Midget AAA team, where he recorded 32 points (9 goals, 23 assists) in 29 games last season, while affiliating for 6 games at the Midget AAA level with the Calgary Buffaloes, scoring one assist.
Gourley was the Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League’s Most Valuable Defence award winner for its South division last season, and also competed for Team Alberta at the 2015 Canada Games in Prince George, B.C.
The World U-17 Hockey Challenge has existed since 1986, originally known as the Quebec Esso Cup. In its current format, it pits three Canadian entries (Red, White, and Black) against teams from the United States, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and Sweden.
This year’s edition of the tournament runs from October 30th to November 7th in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, British Columbia.