Four Islanders on Atlantic roster for World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

CALGARY, Alta. - Hockey Canada announced on Thursday the rosters of the five Canadian teams for the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Dec. 29 to Jan. 4 in Timmins, Ont. Partner venues in Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kirkland Lake and New Liskeard will also host games.
Canada's five regional teams are Pacific (Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon), West (Manitoba, Nunavut and Saskatchewan), Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island).
This World Under-17 Hockey Challenge features 10 teams - five from Canada are joined by teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
The teams are split into two groups, with each team playing four preliminary games before the playoff round. International team rosters will be announced closer to the start of the tournament.
The Atlantic team roster includes four P.E.I. players. Brett Beauvais, a five-foot-nine, 155-pound defenceman, is a 15-year-old from Summerside. He is currently playing with the Ridley College/Canadian Prep team.
Brent Andrews, a six-foot-one, 197-pound left-winger, is a 16-year-old from Hunter River. He is a member of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Also on the Atlantic team is Jason Cameron, a five-foot-10, 168-pound Summerside Western Capital of the Major Junior 'A' Hockey League, is from Cornwall. Another Western Capital, Darcy Ashley, is also on the roster. The five-foot-eight, 168-pound forward is a 16-year-old from Alberton.
The Atlantic team's assistant coach will be Jonathan Murphy from the Charlottetown Islanders of the N.B./P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League.
This tournament brings together the top players in the world.
The under-17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence; many players who compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge go on to represent Canada with the national nen's under-18 team, national junior team and national men's team.
Since the first tournament in 1986, more than 1,000 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge alumni have heard their names called at the NHL Entry Draft. Last year, six of the top 10 picks, and 15 first-rounders overall, were products of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
"This tournament is important for young players, as it gives scouts their first opportunity to see the players in best-on-best competition," said Al Murray, Hockey Canada's head scout for men's national teams.
"The players that will be on the ice in northern Ontario are the cream of the crop in their age group."