Chiefs’ Hobson earns spot on Canadian team

CALGARY, Alberta — Spokane Chiefs forward Adam Hobson has been named to Canada’s National Under-18 Team that will participate in the Junior World Cup next week in Slovakia.

Hobson is one of seven players from the Western Hockey League named to the 22-man roster. Hobson was the Chiefs’ first-round pick in the 2002 WHL Bantam Draft and will be entering his second season with Spokane in the 2004-05 season.

In 63 games during his rookie season last year, Hobson scored four goals and nine points and had 35 penalty minutes. The Mission, British Columbia. native earned a silver medal with Team Pacific at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge earlier this year. He will be eligible for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Canada will be pursuing its eighth international Under-18 Junior World Cup gold medal, having captured gold at seven of the previous eight events that have been held each year in the month of August.

The naming of the 22-player roster comes after a week-long development camp held in Calgary, which saw 40 of Canada’s top under-18 players vying for a spot on Team Canada. The final roster consists of two goaltenders, seven defenseman and 13 forwards.