The Regina Pats have had three players invited to Canada’s National Men’s 2021 Under-18 summer development camp. Forward Connor Bedard, defenseman Layton Feist, and goaltender Matthew Kieper were on the Hockey Canada roster that was announced Thursday.
The three players will join with 43 other players from around the Canadian Hockey League, United States Hockey League, and the Canadian Junior A Hockey League. The camp begins July 26 in Tsuut’ina Nation, AB near Calgary.
Camp season!
Forty-five young men from across the country will head to Calgary in July for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team summer development camp.
ROSTER ➡️ https://t.co/u2ve3rvOs3
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 8, 2021
The invitees
Bedard, the only 2005-born player invited to the camp, turns 16 on July 17. The North Vancouver, BC product won the WHL rookie-of-the-year. He put together stellar numbers scoring 12 times and assisting on 16 others in just 15 games. Throughout the 2020-21 East Division Hub in Regina, his play led to an invitation to the 2021 IIHF U-18 World Championships. He helped Team Canada to a gold medal in Texas, collecting 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists).
Feist, the second Pat invited to the camp had a breakout rookie campaign in the East Division Hub. The Dawson Creek, BC defender played in 21 of the Pats’ 24 games and got better with each contest. His offensive prowess showed as he scored five goals and assisted on four others. His five goals led the Pats defense corps.
(Photo – Keith Hershmiller/WHL)
Kieper is one of four goaltenders invited and the lone WHLer. The Winnipeg, MB product played well in his seven appearances in the 2020-21 WHL East Hub for the Pats. He compiled a 3-2-0-1 record with a 3.59 GAA and an 0.893 save percentage.
The summer camp will take place between July 26 and August 3. It will consist of practices and split-squad contests.
The full roster can be found here.
Other East Division players that received an invite: defenseman Denton Mateychuk (Moose Jaw) and forwards Nate Danielson (Brandon), Conor Geekie (Winnipeg), Matthew Savoie (Winnipeg), and Matthew Ward (Swift Current). Regina product Kyren Gronick (Prince George Cougars) also received an invitation to the camp.
