Vees d-man on big stage

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Penticton defenceman Griffin Mendel

A member of the Penticton Vees will represent Canada at an international hockey event later this year.

Griffin Mendel, 16, has been named to one of the three Canadian teams for the upcoming World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Hockey Canada made the announcement Friday.

The World Under-17 Challenge runs from November 1 to 8th in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John. The WU-17 features three Canadian teams (Red, White & Black) and teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States.

Hockey Canada will announce the rosters at a later date.

Mendel has had a good start to his rookie season, as he developed into one of the Vees best penalty-killers and shutdown defenders.

The Kelowna product has an assist in nine games thus far.

Prior to joining the Vees, Mendel won a Canadian Sports School Hockey League (CSSHL) championship last year, with the Okanagan Hockey Academy’s Prep White team. The 6’2 rear-guard had four goals and 14 points in 17 games with OHA a year ago.

He was a 2014 first round Western Hockey League draft pick of the Kootenay Ice.

Mendel is the only BC Hockey League player among the 66 named to take part in the tournament.

This is the second straight season the Vees will have at least one player participating in the World Under-17 Challenge. Last year Tyson Jost and Dante Fabbro played in the 2016 tournament in Sarnia, Ontario