Whitson Left Off Canadian Sledge Team

Chatham’s Derek Whitson will not represent Team Canada again this year, as the Canadian Sledge Hockey National Team member was left off Canada’s roster following the Canadian selection camp last week.

Canada picked 20 players, which will be trimmed to 17 for the 2018 Paralympic Games in South Korea.

“We had a very competitive camp with a strong group of veterans and prospects all vying for a spot on the team,” said head coach Ken Babey in a Team Canada news release.

“The guest coaches participating in the camp mentored our players on and off the ice, and their evaluation was instrumental in us choosing the players moving forward this Paralympic season. The opportunity to host and compete against the Korean team for the past week also proved to be an invaluable tool as we evaluated our players through practices and games. We feel we’ve positioned ourselves to compete in elite-level competitions, moving forward towards our goal, which are the Paralympics in March.”

Whitson, who helped Canada win a bronze medal in 2014, was trying out at forward, after playing for Canada as a defenseman in the past.

He did not register a point in the 4-game selection camp.