(The Canadian Press)

By Ian Gustafson

Country's best

Lacombe’s Daxon Rudolph, Rebels Graeme Pickering invited to Hockey Canada development camps

Jul 17, 2025 | 4:17 PM

A pair defenceman with central Alberta ties will compete for a chance to represent their country during the upcoming Hockey Canada program of excellence summer camps.

Lacombe’s Daxon Rudolph, who plays for the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, will join 39 other players at Hockey Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp.

He’ll play for a chance to wear the maple leaf at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup set to take place in Brno, Czechia, and Trencin, Slovakia from Aug. 11-16.

The selection camp will take place from July 29 to Aug. 1 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario.

During the camp, Rudolph will play in two red-white games on July 31 and Aug. 1. Rudolph previously represented Canada and won gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship.

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If he makes the roster, the team will begin practicing at the MET Arena in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, from Aug. 3-6 before the start of the tournament five days later.

Rudolph impressed in his rookie season in the WHL putting up seven goals and 34 assists for 41 points in 64 games. He also added 12 points in 11 playoff games.

His stellar play earned him a nomination for the league’s Rookie of the Year award.

Meanwhile, Red Deer Rebels blueliner Graeme Pickering will suit up at Hockey Canada’s national U17 development camp from July 19-23, also in Oakville.

He’ll play alongside 78 other players in hopes of making the Team Canada roster at the 2025 U17 World Challenge set for Oct. 31 to Nov. 8 in Truro, Nova Scotia.

(RINK Hockey Academy/Dylan Asmundson)

The St. Adolphe, Man. product played for the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Prep team last season where he scored five goals and 16 assists for 21 points in 28 games.

He was selected by the Rebels in the first round, 15th overall in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.

This past season he appeared in three games with the Rebels and is expected to be a full-time player for the organization in the upcoming 2025-26 WHL season.

The full roster for the U17 development camp can be found here, and click here for the U18 development camp roster.