Hockey Canada and USA Hockey announced training camp rosters for the national junior teams to select teams for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships Dec. 26-Jan 5 in Saskatoon and Regina, Sask., including Spokane Chiefs Jared Cowen and Tyler Johnson.

Cowen, the Chiefs captain, is among the 36 players, including 10 from the Western Hockey League, invited to take part in Canada’s National Junior selection camp from December 12-16, 2009 in Regina, Sask.

Johnson, a Spokane native, is one of two WHL players headed to the U.S camp in Grand Forks, N.D., Dec. 17-19. Johnson played on the 2009 team.

Spokane defenseman Stefan Ulmer is headed to the tournament in Saskatoon later this month as a member of the Austrian team for the third time, but the first time the team is in the A tournament, a result of winning gold in the B tournament last year.

For more information on the Canadian and American teams, click below.

The other WHL players for Team Canada are 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship gold medalists Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert of the Regina Pats. Brandon Wheat Kings line-mates Scott Glennie and Brayden Schenn have been invited to camp along with the Calgary Hitmen’s Martain Jones and Brandon Kozun, Kelowna Rockets forward Brandon McMillan, Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Travis Hamonic and Swift Current Broncos sniper Cody Eakin.

Over the past 10 years, WHL players have made up over 40% of Team Canada’s National Junior roster, and close to 60% of Team Canada’s defenceman corp. Thirty-one of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2008 or 2009 NHL Entry Draft, including fourteen first-round selections and six second-round picks.

The only other WHL player invited to the U.S. camp is forward Luke Walker of the Portland Winterhawks.

---

---