P.G. well-represented at Team BC U17 tryouts

Dreams of a Joyeux Noel are floating through the heads of 11 hockey players with Prince George connections.

When Team Pacific announced the 34 players short-listed for the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Dec. 28 to Jan. 4 in Victoriaville and Drumondville, Que., seven Prince George players made the cut, as did three players from the 2011-12 Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget League and a goaltender signed by the Prince George Spruce Kings for next season.

Cougars forwards Michael Bell and Tyler Povelofskie each earned nods for the Pacific Region summer camp, July 25-29, in Kamloops, as did defenceman Ryan Gagnon.

Bell, a native of Kitimat, said it'll be nice to have familiar faces at the camp.

"It's good because usually when you're going down it's kind of awkward now knowing a lot of people," said the 16 year old. "Knowing people down there makes it a lot easier."

As a major midget rookie, Bell had five goals and 12 points in 34 games, totals he's determined to raise next season.

Povelofskie, a Williams Lake product, had eight goals and 12 assists in 34 games, while Quesnel's Gagnon had 24 points including four goals in 38 games for the Cougars.

The Prince George players making the cut were: goalies Mitch Profeit and Jeremy Matte; forwards Liam Blackburn, Braiden Epp, Thane Anderson and Mathieu Longhurst; and defenceman Scott Cullen.

Liam McLeod, a goaltender from Kamloops, was also listed from the the BC training camp four weeks ago. McLeod, 16, signed with the Spruce Kings in April.

Prince George Cougars assistant coach Jason Becker will coach Team Pacific at the World Challenge in Quebec.