Connolly is in his first season with the Cougars and currently has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points. Connolly is 2^nd in Western Hockey League rookie scoring.

 

Team Pacific is comprised of 11 players from BC and 11 players from Alberta.  Each province held a provincial camp over the summer to identify a set number of players; these players were evaluated during the first part of the season by the high performance evaluators.

 

“The staff of Team Pacific is pleased to announce the selection of the 22 players that will lead the region in Port Alberni in December,” said Team Pacific head coach Tim Kehler.  “Our staff feels that the players selected represent the right mix of skill, competiveness and character that will lead our Team to a gold medal at the World U-17 Challenge.”

 

Team Pacific will compete against four (4) other teams from Canada (Team Ontario, Team West, Team Quebec and Team Atlantic) and five (5) International Teams (Finland, Germany, Slovakia, United States and Russia).  The 10 teams will compete against each other for the right to be named the 2009 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge Champion.  Team Pacific will look to improve on their fourth place finish in the 2008 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge.

 

The 2009 Team Pacific will look to capture gold for the first time in the history of the tournament.  The squad has been carefully put together by the coaching staff and evaluators.  Team Pacific will have the home field advantage as the fans in Port Alberni are patiently waiting for their team to arrive.  Team Pacific will be in action Sunday, December 28 at 7:00 pm, at the Port Alberni Multiplex when they take on Team USA in exhibition play.