BURLINGTON, Ont. – Three seniors from the McGill University Redmen have made the 22-man roster that will represent the OUA, U Sports and Canada for the hockey tournament at the upcoming FISU world university winter games, also known as the Universiade, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jan. 25 to Feb. 10, 2017.

Forward Mathieu Pompei of Laval, Que., was picked from the No.6-ranked Redmen, along with blueliners Nathan Chiarlitti of Maple, Ont., and Etienne Boutet of Quebec City. Pompei leads the OUA scoring race with 29 points, including nine goals, in 17 games. Chiarlitti, a transfer from St. FX where he was a two-time all-star, has a 2-6-8- record in 12 contests. Boutet, who missed most of the first semester with an injury, has one goal and an assist in three games.

Assuming that Canada goes deep in the tournament, the McGill trio would miss the final five Redmen games of the season before playoffs: at Guelph (Jan.27), at Western (Jan. 28), vs. Carleton (Feb. 4), at Nipissing (Feb. 10) and at Laurentian (Feb. 11).

The roster includes 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders. 

"Our staff feels the training camp from Dec. 27-30 could not have gone any better," said Queen's head coach Brett Gibson, who will serve as bench boss for the Canadian pucksters.  "We got to evaluate the top 40 players in (the OUA) very closely and they did not disappoint.

"We feel as though we have selected the top 22 players who fit the needs we were looking for in selecting a team to represent Canada at the FISU Games – speed, discipline and character.  I believe this is a very strong group of players who I am excited to work with in pursuit of a gold medal in early February."

The defending Queen's Cup champion UQTR Patriotes, currently ranked No. 10 nationally,  lead the way with six selections, including 2016 BLG Award nominee Guillaume Asselin of Quebec City. Joining Asselin are forwards Tommy Giroux of Quebec City, and Pierre-Olivier Morin of Trois-Rivières, Que., defencemen Martin Lefebvre of Terrebonne, Que., and Charles-David Beaudoin of Drummondville, Que., as well as goaltender Sebastian Auger of St. Augustin de Desmaures, Que.

The Carleton Ravens and No. 8 ranked Queen's Gaels each contributed four players.

Representing the Ravens are forwards Brett Welychka of London, Ont., Ryan Van Stralen of Prescott, Ont., Michael McNamee of Perth, Ont., and Corey Durocher of Ottawa. Selected from Queen's are forwards Slater Doggett of Oakville, Ont., and Eric Ming of Williamstown, Ont., defenceman Spencer Abraham of Campbellville, Ont., and goaltender Kevin Bailie of Belleville, Ont.

Rounding out the Canadian forwards are Guelph's Scott Simmonds from Uxbridge, Ont., Laurentian's Brent Pederson of Arthur, Ont., and Concordia captain Olivier Hinse of Sherbrooke, Que.

Other rearguards include Ryerson's Alex Basso of Toronto, Ont., and Waterloo's Mike Moffat, a native of Waterloo, Ont.

Gibson's assistant coaches include Craig Duncanson (Laurentian), Marty Johnston (Carleton) and Brian Bourque (Waterloo).Also joining the staff is athletic therapist James Sawchuk  (Queen's) and equipment manager Trevor Black (Waterloo).

Canada will be looking for a sixth consecutive hockey podium finish since the 2007 Winter Universiade in Turin, Italy.  The Canadian side opens the tournament on Monday, Jan. 30 against the United States at 8:30 AM (Eastern).

TEAM CANADA HOCKEY ROSTER FOR 2017 FISU GAMES IN KAZAKHSTAN
 

POS	NAME	SCHOOL
G	Kevin Bailie	QUEEN'S
G	Sebastian Auger	UQTR
D	Mike Moffat	WATERLOO
D	Nathan Chiarlitti	McGILL
D	Charles-David Beaudoin	UQTR
D	Spencer Abraham	QUEEN'S
D	Etienne Boutet	McGILL
D	Martin Lefebvre	UQTR
D	Alex Basso	RYERSON
F	Scott Simmonds	GUELPH
F	Guillaume Asselin	UQTR
F	Michael McNamee	CARLETON
F	Ryan Van Stralen	CARLETON
F	Mathieu Pompei	McGILL
F	Corey Durocher	CARLETON
F	Olivier Hinse	CONCORDIA
F	Pierre-Olivier Morin	UQTR
F	Brent Pederson	LAURENTIAN
F	Thomas Giroux	UQTR
F	Slater Doggett	QUEEN'S
F	Brett Welychka	CARLETON
F	Eric Ming	QUEEN'S