New West native Kyle Turris has been named to the men’s national hockey team set to compete at the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in May.
Turris was among 20 other Canadian NHL players chosen to represent the country in Minsk, Belarus from May 9 to 25.
Drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007, Turris was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2011. In his first year as a Senator, the New West native played seven games, scoring one goal and assisting in two others.
While the Senators missed the playoffs this year, Turris had a solid season leading his team in scoring with 26 goals. He was also third on his team for points earned with 58 points.
Ottawa Senators’ defenceman Marc Methot will join teammate Turris in Belarus, along with a number of Canucks, including Alex Burrows, Kevin Bieksa and Jason Garrison.
Rob Blake, general manager for Canada’s national men’s hockey team, announced the first 20 players chosen for the international competition. There are still five spots remaining on the team, and those names are expected later this month as the first round of NHL playoffs wraps up. Teams can add players as they get eliminated from the playoffs.
