Team West will open the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge tonight against Team Pacific at MTS IcePlex in Winnipeg. Both teams played exhibition games last night. Team Pacific outscored Germany 7-6 in overtime in Steinbach while Team West gave up three third period goals and dropped a 4-0 decision to the United States in Portage la Prairie. Team West goaltenders Andy Desautels and Chris Driedger combined to stop 38 of 42 shots.

 

 

Southwest Cougars forward Sutton Olson

 

CFRY's Jeff Dyck asked Team West forward Sutton Olson of Deloraine to talk about their exhibition loss to the United States.

 

 

Team West is in Group "B" with Team Pacific, Slovakia, Team Ontario and the Czech Republic. The 11 Manitobans on Team West are goaltender Chris Driedger of Winnipeg along with defencemen Reid Gow of Killarney, Landon Peel of Virden, Ryan Pulock of Grandview and Justin Hamonic of Winnipeg. The forwards include Sutton Olson of Deloraine, Brayden Cuthbert of Brandon, Brendan Harms of Steinbach, Daniel Asham of Headingley, Brendan Leipsic of Winnipeg and Brett Stovin of Stony Mountain. Team West finished eighth at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Timmons.