Max Martin made the team, but barring a major miracle, his injured shoulder won't allow him to play in the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
The team was announced Friday, however the 16-year-old Prince George Cougars defenceman is scheduled for shoulder surgery next week in Prince George. That's expected to sideline him for the next three months.
The 22-game World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek starts Nov. 1 and wraps up Nov. 7. Canada will have three teams involved -- White, Red and Black -- while teams from the United States, Russia, Czech Republic and Finland are also entered.
Martin played three games for Canada Black at the Team Canada summer development camp in Calgary.
The six-foot, 185-pound Martin made the jump to the WHL this season after playing midget hockey last year in Winnipeg. He and centre Justin Almeida are the two 16-year-olds who made the Cougars team this season.
Last season, playing for the Winnipeg Wild (midget triple-A), he collected six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 28 games. He was captain of the Manitoba team which won bronze at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, picking up four assists in six games.
Since 2012, eight of the current Cougars have played in the tournament, including Chase Witala, Mack Shields, Jansen Harkins, Brad Morrison, Tate Olson, Jesse Gabrielle, and Josh Anderson.
