OLDS — Olds Grizzlys defenceman Landan Viveiros will suit up with Team Austria in the IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Group B Championship Dec. 9-15 in France.
Viveiros was born in Austria and lived there until the age of 16 when he decided to move to Canada to pursue his hockey career.
“There was an opportunity to play midget AAA in Alberta and I wanted to give it a try and see how it was,” said Viveiros, who played for the St. Albert midget AAA Raiders for one year and last season earned a berth with the St. Albert Steel (now Whitecourt Wolverines) of the AJHL.
The Grizzlys acquired Viveiros in an off-season trade.
The Austrian team will be competing for gold against Denmark, Belarus, Norway, Slovenia, and France in this year’s group B tournament. The tournament champion will qualify for the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden.
“I think we have a pretty good chance at winning the gold medal this year. We have a really good team.
Most of the team is comprised of the same players from the U18 team, with just a few additions,” said Viveiros, 19.
“This is a great opportunity for Landan,” said Grizzlys head coach Brett Hopfe. “The Olds Grizzlys organization is extremely proud to have a player represented on this world stage. We wish Landan nothing but the best and hopes he come back with a gold medal around his neck.”