HOCKEY CANADA WELCOMES 30 GOALTENDERS INCLUDING WINDSOR SPITFIRE MICHAEL DIPIETRO TO 12TH ANNUAL PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE GOALTENDING CAMP

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada is looking ahead to a busy 2017-18 season, and it starts with the annual Program of Excellence goaltending camp, June 9-11 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

The weekend-long camp brings together some of the country’s top goaltending talent with elite-level instructors from across North America. The camp is the initial evaluation stage for summer development and selection camps in the under-17, under-18 and under-20 levels.

Four netminders at the under-20 level from last year’s goaltending camp are among the seven between the pipes this year for consideration in Canada’s National Junior Team summer development camp. They’ll be joined by seven National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team hopefuls as well as 16 goalies looking to earn spots at Canada’s national under-17 development camp.

“For the past 11 years, this goaltending camp has allowed us to monitor, evaluate and continue to develop elite-level players in a short amount of time,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations and men’s national teams. “Some players have just ended their seasons, but the opportunity to scout them all season and through this camp, we’re able to look ahead and plan for our development and selection camps with the talent we have.”

Under the direction of Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel, and goaltending consultant Fred Brathwaite, the camp includes on- and off-ice sessions with instruction from Chris Chisamore (Hockey Canada), Myles Hovdebo (Hockey Canada), Brad Kirkwood (Hockey Canada), Jason LaBarbera (Calgary, WHL), and Dustin Schwartz (Edmonton, NHL).

Rick Wamsley (Hockey Canada) will lead the under-17 goaltenders, while Lyle Mast (Hockey Canada) will guide the U18 and U20 goalies.