Every Canadian hockey player dreams of wearing their nation’s red and white jersey. Now two Flin Flon Bombers are close to making that dream come true.
Forward Brandon Lesko and defenceman Cory Thomas have been named to the selection camp roster for Team Canada West at this year’s World Junior A Challenge. They are two of 11 players from the SJHL to be named to the 60-man camp roster.
Lesko, a native of Hafford, Sask., has 16 points in 21 games in his second full season with the Bombers.
Thomas is also in his second full season in Flin Flon and has added four points in 23 games. The St. Brieux, Sask.-born Thomas has earned a reputation for responsible and steady defensive play.
“It’s his ability to defend,” said Bombers head coach and general manager Mike Reagan. “His size is definitely an asset of his and he can play a good shutdown role.
“With Lesko, he’s the power-forward type, his skating is a huge asset for him and he’s got a pro shot. If he can forecheck hard, be physical and put lots of pucks to the net, then I like his chances of making the team.”
Reagan will join Lesko and Thomas at the selection camp. Reagan will be an assistant coach with Team Canada West, joining Dauphin Kings coach Marc Berry and Coquitlam Express coach Barry Wolff behind the bench.
Lesko and Thomas are not the first Bombers to attend a Canada West selection camp. Goaltender Zac Robidoux tried out for the team last season and blueliner Tanner Lishchynsky attended camp in 2014.
“If they didn’t have a shot, they wouldn’t be going,” Reagan said of Lesko and Thomas. “We invited them because we feel they’re two of the better players in western Canada at their age, and they have an opportunity to make the team.”
Reagan served as a video coach with Team Canada West during last year’s World Junior A Challenge. Sporting three NHL first-round draft picks, Team Canada West ended the tournament with a gold medal, something Reagan thinks will add to the intensity of this year’s tournament.
“We’re going to be going into the tournament with a target on our back, but it’s a good challenge,” he said. “There’s always going to be new players who will step into the roles.”
The World Junior A Challenge pits players under the age of 19 playing in Canadian junior A leagues against players from Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland and the US.
The selection camp will be held in Leduc, Alta., from Dec. 5-8, including practices, scrimmages and intersquad games.
Lesko, Thomas and Reagan will fly to Leduc this weekend and will miss at least one Bomber game.
The tournament itself will be held in Bonnyville, Alta., from Dec. 11-17.
