KENNEWICK -- Invitations to Canada's National Junior team camp were handed out Monday, but none were extended to Tri-City Americans players.
Forwards Patrick Holland and Justin Feser, along with defenseman Zach Yuen, were invited to play in the Subway Super Series earlier this month. The two-game series against Team Russia was the final opportunity for players to impress Canada coach Don Hay and Kevin Prendergast, Hockey Canada's head scout.
"It was a good opportunity and I gave it my best shot," Feser said of the Super Series. "That's all I can ask of myself. Staying here, I get stay with the team. We have jelled as a team and our team bonding is great and that shows on the ice and with the wins."
Among the 41 players invited to the camp, 16 are from the Western Hockey League. The camp runs from Dec. 10-14 at the WinSport Canada Athletic & Ice Complex in Calgary.
Team Canada will be chosen from the camp participants, which includes players from the WHL, Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
"It's a very elite group that is picked and they have to take who they believe are the best," said Tri-City general manager Bob Tory. "A lot of thought goes into the process. We are proud of our players that have been chosen and we are proud of our players here. If they had been invited, that would great. They haven't, so we move forward."
The Tri-City players took the news in stride Monday as they prepared for Wednesday's road game with the Kelowna Rockets.
"It's disappointing," said Yuen, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL draft by the Winnipeg Jets. "I'll take the experience. I still have another year -- I can prove myself again."
Of the 16 WHL players invited, five are from the U.S. Division, led by Portland defenseman Joe Morrow and forwards Ty Rattie and Brad Ross.
Also invited were Spokane defenseman Brenden Kichton and Everett defenseman Ryan Murray.
Missing from the list was Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard, who was invited last year, and who played both games of the Super Series against Team Russia.
The World Junior Championship is Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Calgary and Edmonton. Canada won a silver medal last year.
Notes
The Americans will bring in goalie Brett Teskey to fill in for Eric Comrie when he plays for Team Pacific in the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge from Dec. 29-Jan. 4 in Windsor, Ontario. Teskey, 18, was the backup behind Nathan Lieuwen for the Kootenay Ice last year when they went to the Memorial Cup. Teskey is playing for the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League this season. He was 6-3-0-0 through Monday.
* Portland's Rattie was named WHL Player of the Week after scoring seven goals with five assists and a plus-8 rating in four games, helping the Winterhawks to a 3-1-0-0 record. The WHL also nominated Comrie for CHL Goalie of the Week after he posted a 2-0-0-0 record with a .957 save percentage and a 1.00 goals against average.
