Cristall named to leadership group for U18 tournament

Apr 19, 2023 | 12:00 PM Pete McIntyre

Kelowna Rockets forward Andrew Cristall has been chosen as an alternate captain for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team which will compete at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship in Basel and Porrentruy, Switzerland.

The squad will be captained by Cam Allen of the Guelph Storm, while the other alternate will be Colby Barlow of the Owen Sound Attack.

Cristall, an 18-year-old forward from Vancouver, is projected to be a possible first round selection at this year’s NHL Draft.

Canada opens the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship against Sweden on Thursday, April 20 at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT.

It will play Germany on April 21, Slovakia on April 23 and Czechia on April 24 to round out the preliminary round before the tournament wraps up with the bronze and gold medal games on April 30.

TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, will broadcast select tournament games, including all Team Canada games.

For more information on the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship, visit the official tournament website at 2023.U18worlds.hockey.

Photo: Andrew Cristall of the Kelowna Rockets (right) with Cam Allen of the Guelph Storm, (centre) and Colby Barlow of the Owen Sound Attack (left). (Hockey Canada photo)