April 27, 2012
Alumni in International Competition
Alumni in International Competition
The IIHF U18 World Championships and IIHF World Championships are two of the largest tournaments in international competition. Both tournaments are set to take place within the next couple months. Rosters are slowly being released for each respected country and already four GMHL alumni have been named to international teams. These include Nikita Jevpalovs (Captain of U18 Team Latvia), Nemanja Jankovic (Serbia), Martijn Oosterwijk (Netherlands), and Greg Hyde (Austrilia).
South Muskoka Alumnus Nikita Jevpalovs has been named captain of Team Latvia in the upcoming IIHF U18 World Junior Championship. The heavily scouted tournament will be the last chance players to showcase their talents to NHL scouts for the upcoming 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Jevpalovs, who has a history of excelling in international competition, is expected to go in this year’s NHL draft. In the U20 World Junior Championship Nikita led Team Latvia in scoring with five points in six games, despite being the youngest player on the team.
Nemanja Jankovic played three seasons in the GMHL for the Bradford Rattlers, helping to lead the Rattlers to their two Russell Cup titles. The Rattlers helped Nemanja move to the NCAA’s Finlandia University, where he has spent the past four seasons as a front line forward for the university. In the 2009-10 season, he finished second in team scoring with 11 goals for Finlandia. Jankovic will be representing his country Serbia in the World Championships this year.
Martijn Oosterwijk is a goaltender from the Netherlands and will be representing his country in this year’s World Championship. In the GMHL, Oosterwijk started for the Powasson Dragons in 2009-2010. Powasson was able to get Oosterwijk a starting job in his home country’s top professional league, where he played last season. This is Martijn’s first World Championship selection.
Former Elliot Lake Bobcat and Nipissing Allouette Greg Hyde will be playing for Team Australia in the World Championships this year. Greg spent two years in the GMHL, scoring 60 points in 75 games for his junior career. Greg’s development in the GMHL allowed him to land a spot in Australia’s top professional league, where he is playing now.
Congratulations to all of our Alumni on their achievements. Being named as a top player in your country is a great accomplishment, and no small feat. The GMHL takes much pride in developing hockey players which are making a impact beyond their junior years.