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Tecumseh’s Spencer Sova has been named to Canada’s national team for the World Under-18 Hockey Championship.
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The 18-year-old Sova, who is eligible for this year’s NHL Draft, just completed his first season in the OHL with the Erie Otters.
Canada’s 25-player roster includes six players from the OHL and will begin play in the eight-team tournament, which will be held in Germany, on Saturday
Canada will open against the United States and will also face Germany and Czechia in pool play.
A 6-foot, 185-pound defenseman, Sova, who was Erie’s first-round pick in 2020, had nine goals and 28 points in 64 games this season along with 14 penalty minutes.
Donoso honored again
For the second time this season, Windsor’s Max Donoso has been named the OHL’s goalie of the week.
The 18-year-old Donoso stopped 62-of-63 shots in two starts for the Ottawa 67’s, which included a 26-save performance against the Kingston Frontenacs to record his first career shutout in the league.
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A fifth-round pick by the 67’s in 2019, Donoso, who is a Windsor Jr. Spitfires’ product, has compiled an 11-9-1-5 record with a 2.82 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 27 games during his first season in the league.
Canada calls Smith
Windsor native DJ Smith has been named an assistant coach for Canada’s World Championship team, which will compete in Finland from May 13-29.
The 44-year-old Smith, who played and coached with the Windsor Spitfires, is currently finishing up his third season as head coach of the NHL’s Ottawa 67’s.
Former Spitfire defenseman Claude Julien will serve as Canada’s head coach with Smith and Andre Tourigny taking on the assistant roles.
This is Smith’s second coaching stint with Hockey Canada. He was an assistant with Canada’s under-18 summer team in 2014, which won the gold medal.
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Stop provides relief
LaSalle right-hander Matteo Pare pitched two innings of scoreless relief on Tuesday to help rally Canada’s national junior team to a 4-2 win over a team of prospects from the Washington Nationals.
The 16-year-old Pare allowed one hit and struck out two in two innings of work on Tuesday. He is currently taking part in Canada’s spring training camp in West Palm Beach, FL that includes a 12-games schedule with six games against prospects from the Houston and Washington organizations.
A 6-foot-4, 205-pound Pare, who plays for the Windsor Selects, is one of two area players trying to earn roster spot along with Amherstburg catcher Rees Kosar, who did not appear in Tuesday’s game.
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