Spokane Chief captain Jared Cowen has been invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Development Camp scheduled for early August in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  The defenseman was a member of Canada’s silver medal winning team at last year’s IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship and will be one of 41 skaters (defensemen and forwards) vying for a spot on the 2011 roster. 

The camp roster includes 18 current WHL players among the 17 defensemen and 24 forwards.

Cowen scored a career high eight goals and 30 points in 59 games this past season for the Chiefs.  The Allan, Saskatchewan native also made his NHL debut on April 8^th for the Ottawa Senators, the team that selected him ninth overall in the 2009 Entry Draft. 

The invited players, born in 1991 or 1992, were selected by Hockey Canada head scout Al Murray, in consultation with head coach Dave Cameron (Mississauga St. Michael’s, OHL) and assistant coaches Bob Boughner (Windsor, OHL), Ryan Huska (Kelowna, WHL) and André Tourigny (Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL). Murray evaluated these players over the course of the 2009-10 season, following these players along with numerous other candidates for the program during league play, as well as during international competitions for both the under-18 and junior programs.

“There are a number of tremendously talented players across Canada in this age group, and the players named today will have a terrific opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best the country has to offer,” said Murray. “We are looking forward to a very competitive, high-energy camp.”

The 2011 tournament will take place in Buffalo, NY and begin on December 26^th, 2010.

Details of the camp, including dates, schedule and red and white rosters will be announced at a later date.