OLDS — Olds Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) president Rich McDonald is pleased that local youth Ronan Seeley, an OMHA graduate, has made the 2022 Canadian World Junior team.
The team’s roster was announced Sunday, Dec. 13.
They’ll battle for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship, which features the top U-20 players in the world and will run Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Red Deer and Edmonton.
Seeley, 19, is a left-shooting defenceman and is co-captain of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
He played his minor hockey in Olds and midget AAA in Red Deer and Lethbridge. He’s been playing for the Silvertips since the 2018-19 season.
Seeley was selected by the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round of the 2020 draft (208th) and signed a three-year entry-level contract with them last September.
“I think it's safe to say that everyone is extremely happy for Ronan on his amazing achievement,” McDonald wrote in an email.
“It’s always great for young kids to have someone to look up to and it’s even better when that someone is from your home town!
“I think all of us, not only Olds Minor Hockey, but the community as a whole, are proud of Ronan and wish him and Team Canada the best of luck in this year’s tournament!
Seeley is six feet, one inch tall and weighs 192 pounds.
So far this season, he has scored six goals and picked up 16 assists for 22 points and is +23 in 24 WHL games.
Earlier this season Seeley was named WHL Player of the Week.
Thirty-five players were invited to the selection camp, held earlier this month in Calgary.
The team is now expected to spend the next while bonding in Banff in preparation for the tournament.
