Eight AUS players highlight roster for 2018 U SPORTS Men’s Hockey All-Star Series

Eight AUS players highlight roster for 2018 U SPORTS Men's Hockey All-Star Series

(TORONTO, ON) – Eight AUS players highlight the U SPORTS Men's Hockey All-Stars roster named on Tuesday, set to face Hockey Canada's World Junior Prospects in Victoria, B.C. from Dec. 12-14.

StFX forward Holden Cook was named to the All-Stars roster for the third straight year, while Saint Mary's forward Hunter Garlent, a first team all-Canadian in 2017-18 and the 2016-17 AUS rookie of the year was selected for the second consecutive year.

This will mark the fourth straight year Canada's National Junior Team Prospects have faced off against the U SPORTS All-Stars, all of whom have CHL major junior experience. Since a U SPORTS national all-star team began participating in December 2015, the teams have split the last six contests.

Last December, reigning Defenceman of the Year Jason Fram of the Alberta Golden Bears scored with 6.5 seconds remaining to secure back-to-back victories for U SPORTS for the first time.

Other Atlantic conference players chosen include five forwards from the U SPORTS no. 1-ranked UNB Reds (Matt Murphy, Marcus McIvor, Kris Bennett, Mark Simpson and Christopher Clapperton). Saint Mary's defenceman Alexandar Peters rounds out the AUS selections.

New this year, the event will feature a three-game series against Team Canada's World Junior Prospects vying for roster spots at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship being held in Vancouver and Victoria from Dec.26, 2018 - Jan.5, 2019.

Games are scheduled at The Q Centre, home of the British Columbia Hockey League's (BCHL) Victoria Grizzlies as follows:

• Wednesday, Dec. 12 – 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
• Thursday, Dec. 13 – 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
• Friday, Dec. 14 – 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT

Mark Howell, head coach of the Calgary Dinos, was named as the team's bench boss in October, joined by returning assistant and Ottawa Gee-Gees head coach Patrick Grandmaître, along with UNB Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall, and Regina Cougars head coach Todd Johnson.

"I am really excited about the roster we have assembled. We have players that can do a little bit of everything," said Howell, who served as an assistant coach at the event the last two years. "All our guys can skate very well and have a ton of skill, but we will also be able to play a very intense game.

"I expect this team to work real hard and represent U SPORTS well. It is a privilege to play in these three games and it is an opportunity to show everyone our brand of hockey."

Hockey Canada's National Junior Team has faced various U SPORTS competition on a regular basis since 1988.