Cougars goalie Tyler Brennan was one of 46 players honoured by Hockey Canada on Thursday.
Brennan, 17, was one of six goalies who would have been invited to the national summer Under-18 team selection camp. The camp would have selected the team to represent Canada at the 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August in Edmonton and Red Deer.
However, Hockey Canada cancelled the tournament on April 28, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re thrilled to see Tyler get this type of recognition. It’s unfortunate the tournament is
cancelled but for him to be considered one of the top players in the country for his age group is a well-deserved honour,” Cougars’ GM and head coach Mark Lamb said in a press release.
Brennan, who hails from Winnipeg, played 15 games with the Cougars during the shortened 2019-20 season. As a 16-year-old rookie goalie, he posted four wins and maintained a 3.34 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage.
The six-foot-three, 187-pound netminder played for Team Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge last November.
“It is important for Hockey Canada to recognize the work the players and coaching staff already put in to prepare for the summer and a chance to compete for gold on home ice,” Hockey Canada senior vice-president Scott Salmond said in a press release.
“It was a difficult decision to cancel the tournament, as it provides the opportunity to showcase the top under-18 players in a best-on-best international showcase. We want to recognize the 46 players and our three coaches for this tremendous accomplishment, and we look forward to watching all players continue to develop as they look ahead to next season and a chance to compete at the IIHF U18 World Championship.”
The Czech Republic and Slovakia will host the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup before it returns to Edmonton and Red Deer in 2022.
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