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Wallin hits ice with U-18s

Jesse Wallin introduced himself to his troops Wednesday and will conduct an on-ice workout at the Mastercard Centre today before heading overseas.“I met all of our kids here today and I like our size,” said Wallin, the Red Deer Rebels GM/head coach and bench boss of the Canadian team that will compete in the World Under-18 Hockey Championship April 12-22 in Brno, Czech Republic.

TORONTO — Jesse Wallin introduced himself to his troops Wednesday and will conduct an on-ice workout at the Mastercard Centre today before heading overseas.

“I met all of our kids here today and I like our size,” said Wallin, the Red Deer Rebels GM/head coach and bench boss of the Canadian team that will compete in the World Under-18 Hockey Championship April 12-22 in Brno, Czech Republic.

“We have a real big group of forwards, a lot of power forwards. We have a good mix of size, physical presence and skill up front.”

The team currently consists of 20 players whose teams either didn’t qualify for the playoffs in the Western, Ontario and Quebec leagues or were eliminated in the first round.

The team is expected to add another three players if they are eliminated from post-season play by April 14.

At least one of the late arrivals will be a defenceman since the team’s blueline currently features just six players, including Rebels standout Mathew Dumba, a good bet to be named captain of the Canadian squad.

Dumba and Adam Pelech of the OHL’s Erie Otters are the team’s top rearguards.

“We’ll go over with what we’ve got,” said Wallin, who along with Rebels radio broadcast director and U18 team media relations person Cam Moon arrived in Toronto Tuesday.

“We don’t have to name our final roster until the 14th, so after the first four or five games of the second round (of CHL playoffs) we’ll see if anyone else comes available.”

Team Canada will fly out of Toronto tonight and arrive in Prague early Friday. The Canadian squad has an exhibition game Saturday in Prague, then will drive to Brno for a second pre-tournament contest Monday.

Canada’s first game of the championship is April 12 versus Denmark.

Trochu’s Mike Winther, a Prince Albert Raiders star and a potential first- or second-round pick in this year’s NHL entry draft, is one of 11 forwards on the Canadian roster.

Other WHL forwards are Branden Trook of the Seattle Thunderbirds, Troy Bourke of the Prince George Cougars and Sam Reinhart, 16, of the Kootenay Ice.

The Team Canada defence also features Damon Severson of the Kelowna Rockets and Josh Morrissey, 16, of the Raiders.

l Rebels forward John Persson, who is eligible to return to the club next season as a 20-year-old, is making the most of his stint with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. Persson, who was drafted by the New York Islanders last year, has scored three goals and collected five points in eight games with the Islanders’ No. 1 affiliate . . . Meanwhile, Rebels defenceman Alex Petrovic has yet to record a point in two games with the San Antonio Rage and forward Turner Elson has yet to appear in a game with the Abbotsford Heat, although he appears on the roster of the Calgary Flames’ top farm team. Of the three, Petrovic, a second-round selection of the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL entry draft and a signed player, is most likely to play pro next season.

gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com