Boris Rybalka, the current General Manager and Head Coach of the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, was named Head Coach.

“We are very delighted to appoint Boris as the Head Coach for Team Canada West, for the second consecutive year,” beamed Team Canada West General Manager, Darcy Rota. “Boris did a phenomenal job last year for our squad at the World Junior A Challenge. We are very optimistic Boris will be able to repeat this excellence, as we strive to win our second gold medal for Team Canada West.”

“It is a tremendous honor for me to be named Head Coach for this year’s World Junior A Challenge,” stated Rybalka. “Last year’s event was an incredible experience for myself as a coach, and I am very anxious to repeat the success we had last year. I will strive to coach to the best of my abilities, in an effort to bring a gold medal back to Western Canada.”

Dwight McMillan, the current Head Coach of the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, was one of the two individuals named to the role of Assistant Coach. Tim Kehler of the Trail Smoke Eaters of the British Columbia Hockey League was named to the role of Assistant Coach as well.

“We have great confidence that we have selected two Assistant Coaches who will go above and beyond to achieve the goals of Team Canada West,” declared Kim Davis, CJAHL Team Canada West Representative. “Dwight was an instrumental part of our championship team last year, and Tim is one of the top young coaches in Junior hockey today. The two will compliment the team very well, and we are truly pleased to have them on board.”

The 2007 World Junior A Challenge will take place from November 4th to 11th in Trail and Nelson, BC. Canada will look to continue its success at the event, as Team Canada East played Team Canada West in the championship finals of the 2006 World Junior A Challenge, winning silver and gold respectively.

The CJAHL is an amalgamation of ten Junior A hockey leagues from across Canada. More information on the CJAHL can be found by clicking on the league website, www.cjahl.com.

» 2007 World Junior A Challenge

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Kim Davis

CJAHL Representative

Team Canada West

Ph) 204-488-1227

E-mail) [email protected]

Brent Ladds

CJAHL Representative

Team Canada East

Ph) 519-622-2402

E-mail) [email protected]

Darcy Steen

Coordinator, Junior Hockey Projects

Hockey Canada

Ph) 403-777-4595

[email protected]