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National nods: Victoria-linked players get Hockey Canada invites

Canada’s future stars include a strong showing from the South Island
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Giorgos Pantelas of Langford skates during Hockey Canada’s U17 camp last year. The Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman is now vying for a spot on Canada’s U18 squad.

For six young players with ties to Greater Victoria, summer means more than beach days – it’s national team camp season.

Langford’s Giorgos Pantelas, along with 39 other players from across the country, will attend Hockey Canada’s U18 selection camp, set for July 29-Aug. 1 in Oakville, Ont., where players will vie for a spot on the roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, running Aug. 11-16 in Czechia and Slovakia.

“I was really excited,” Pantelas told Victoria News. “There’s not a lot of hockey going on in the summer, so to get invited to something like this, with the best guys in the country, it’s a huge honour.”

The Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman just wrapped up his 17-year-old season in the WHL and said he’s feeling more confident heading into his second year in the WHL. 

“The biggest thing I learned this season is it’s a long process,” he said. “I didn’t have the best start, but by the end of the year, I’d improved a ton. It’s about continuing to grow and staying consistent.”

Also named to the U18 camp is Keaton Verhoeff – a former Victoria Royals blueliner who’s committed to the University of North Dakota for next season.

Meanwhile, the U17 development camp, set for July 19-23 in Oakville, features four more players with local ties – Victoria’s Brock Cripps, Oak Bay’s Eddy Spytz, and Victoria Royals draft picks Jacob Schwartz and Ludovic Perreault. 

Pantelas, who skated with Cripps growing up, said it’s no surprise to see his longtime friend getting the national nod.

“I’ve known Brock since peewee,” he said. “We’ve played together, trained together – he’s got a crazy work ethic. He’s always going 100 per cent, and that’s why he’s here.”

Pantelas is back home in Langford for the summer, training with Speed Mechanics and Transform Sports and skating with local groups to stay sharp ahead of camp.

Though he said the invite came as a surprise, he’s looking forward to the chance to measure himself against Canada’s best.

“I just want to see how I stack up,” he said. “See what I’m doing well, and see where I can improve. If I’m not where I want to be, I’ll train harder. That’s what this is about.”

Canada is coming off three straight gold medals at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and the program’s U17 group will aim to make its mark this fall at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, running Oct. 31-Nov. 8 in Truro, N.S.

“It’s a really strong age group,” said Pantelas. “Just to be a part of it is special. Everyone wants to wear that jersey.”



Tony Trozzo

About the Author: Tony Trozzo

Multimedia journalist with the Greater Victoria news team, specializing in sports coverage.
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