By Mitch Bach

Rookie Williams named to U17 Team Canada

Oct 17, 2017 | 4:33 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Medicine Hat Tigers rookie Josh Williams has been named to Canada’s 66-player roster ahead of the World U17 Hockey Challenge in B.C.’s Peace Region next month.

“It’s always been a dream of mine,” said the 16-year-old Langley, B.C. product, who scored his second goal of the season in Friday’s win over Saskatoon. “Representing your country is a real big honour for me, I’m just really excited.”

The players will be divvied up into three teams, Canada White, Canada Red, and Canada Black, and will compete against five international squads.

Williams, drafted 5th overall in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, will have the eyes of NHL and Hockey Canada brass upon him for the duration of the tournament. He’ll be away from the Tigers for roughly a week, with the tournament taking place Nov. 5-11 in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, B.C.

Although he’s leaving behind his former teammates temporarily, Williams says he’ll be reunited with some old friends from his playing days at the Yale Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C. who’ve also made the cut.

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“They’re like my best friends, I’ve played with some of them for 5-6 years now,” the winger continued. “A few of them I got to play with just nlast year but they’ve become my best friends. I’m gonna be really happy to see them in a couple weeks.”

Among those players are Dylan Cozens, playing for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, former line-mate Alex Swetlikoff, blueliners Bowen Byram and Rhett Rhinehart, and goaltender Roman Bazran.

This will be Williams first experience representing Canada — a moment he’s dreamt about for years.

“Watching the World Juniors when you’re a kid, you get goosebumps watching that,” he added. “Just being able to put on the jersey is going to be an unbelievable experience.”