Red Deer Rebels players’ Dawson Barteaux and Byron Fancy will have an opportunity to wear the maple leaf this summer.
Hockey Canada announced the invitees to its annual Summer Showcase on Tuesday and among the 197 names were Barteaux, a stable defender for the Rebels down the stretch last season and Fancy in net, Red Deer’s second round selection in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.
Barteaux is among a group of 44 players, only 16 defenceman vying for a spot on Canada’s U18 team during the five-day camp in Calgary in late July. From there the final group will be selected and will leave for the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup on Aug. 2.
The 17-year-old suited up for 24 games with the Rebels last year after being traded to Red Deer from the Regina Pats in a blockbuster deal that sent Josh Mahura and Jeff de Wit to the Pats. Barteaux recorded two assists in those 24 contests and also played in three playoff games for Red Deer.
Fancy was one of 111 players, including 12 goalies that got the invite for the under-17 development camp. The Claresholm native will look to earn one of six goalie spots at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge played in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, B.C. this winter.
The 16-year-old goaltender played the majority of last season with Lethbridge of the Alberta Midget Hockey League, where he recorded a 3.58 goals against average and a .895 save percentage.
He spent the majority of December with the Rebels as Lasse Petersen was playing for Denmark in the World Junior Hockey Championships and entered only one game in relief of Riley Lamb. He played 32 minutes on Dec. 28 against the Edmonton Oil Kings and allowed three goals on 18 shots.
Hockey Canada will reveal the schedule for the U17 and U18 camps in the coming weeks.