Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.

Knelsen to play for Canada at Spengler Cup

Dec 20, 2018 | 2:02 PM

Red Deer Minor Hockey grad Dion Knelsen will play for Canada at the upcoming Spengler Cup.

Hockey Canada announced its roster for the annual club tournament on Thursday.

Knelsen, a native of Three Hills, played Bantam AAA and Midget AAA in Red Deer from 2002-2005 before playing in the AJHL with Drumheller and NCAA with University of Alaska – Faribanks. He competed at the World U18 Hockey Challenge in 2006.

The 29-year-old played pro hockey in Norway from 2010-2016 and since then has been in Switzerland with the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers.

“We are excited with this year’s group of players, as we believe we have assembled a team that combines experience from previous Spengler Cup appearances and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, and a group of new faces who will contribute to the success of our team,” general manager Sean Burke said in a statement. “The Spengler Cup is always an exciting tournament with a rich history, and we look forward to competing for our fourth-consecutive championship with this group of 25 players.”

Canada, led by head coach Kevin Dineen, will open the 2018 Spengler Cup against host HC Davos on Dec. 26.

Team Canada Roster:

Forwards — Zach Boychuk, Airdrie, Alta. SC Bern (NLA, Switzerland); Colt Conrad, St. Alphonse, Man., Western Michigan University (NCHC, U.S.); Adam Cracknell, Prince Albert, Sask., San Diego (AHL); Matt D’Agostini, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., HC Ambri-Piotta (NLA); Zac Dalpe, Paris, Ont., Cleveland (AHL); Chris DiDomenico, Woodbridge, Ont., SCL Tigers (NLA); Andrew Ebbett, Vernon, B.C., SC Bern (NLA); Cory Emmerton, St. Thomas, Ont., Lausanne HC (NLA); Aaron Gagnon, Armstrong, B.C., SCL Tigers (NLA); Dion Knelsen, Three Hills, Alta., SC Rapperswil-Jona (NLA); Maxim Lapierre, Brossard, Que., HC Lugano (NLA); Jacob Micflikier, Winnipeg, HC Fribourg-Gotteron (NLA); Torrey Mitchell, Greenfield Park, Que., Lausanne HC (NLA); Dominic Moore, Sarnia, Ont. Hockey Canada; Daniel Winnik, Toronto, Geneve-Servette HC (NLA).

Defence — Kevin Bieksa, Grismby, Ont., Hockey Canada; Kodie Curran, Calgary, Rogle BK (SHL, Sweden); Simon Despres, Laval, Que. Laval (AHL); Dante Fabbro, Coquitlam, B.C.; Boston University (HE, U.S.); Maxim Noreau, Montreal, ZSC Lions (NLA); Kyle Quincey, Caledon, Ont., HIFK Helsinki (Liiga, Finland); Daniel Vukovic, North York, Ont., Geneve-Servette HC (NLA); Patrick Wiercioch, Burnaby, B.C., Dinamo Minsk (KHL, Russia)

Goaltenders — Zach Fucale, Rosemere, Que., Fort Wayne (ECHL, US); Jared Coreau, Perth, Ont., San Diego (AHL)

(With file from The Canadian Press)