Two Vees make U17 roster

Photo: Penticton Vees

Massimo Rizzo, left, and Luke Reid, right, have been selected to play for Team Canada at next month's World U17 Challenge

A pair of Penticton Vees players were among 66 named to Team Canada's roster for next month's World U17 Hockey Challenge in northern B.C.

Defensemen Luke Reid, 16, and forward Massimo Rizzo, 17, will participate in the tournament that takes place in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John from Nov. 5th to 11th.

Pre-tournament games begin on Nov. 2nd.

Prior to that, the 66 Canadian players selected will be split into three teams, comprising Canada Red, Canada White and Canada Black.

The United States, Finland, Sweden, Russia and Czech Republic will make up the other five teams at the tournament.

Reid and Rizzo will be away from the Vees for about two weeks to take part in the event. 

"It's a great opportunity for those two guys... Usually what we've always seen is when players come back from these kinds of events, their game is elevated even higher from when they left," Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson said. 

This will be the fourth straight season that at least one Vees player has been chosen to take part in the annual tournament.

Defender Jonny Tychonick took part last year, while blueliner Griffin Mendel was selected in 2015.

Mendel took home a gold medal with Canada White when they won in 2015. That year's tournament was also hosted in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.