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World Juniors exec. dir. excited to come to Fort McMurray

With the Team Canada Red and White game just days away, Hockey Canada’s top brass is singing the praises of Fort McMurray.

Al Coates, Executive Director for the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championships, says bringing the game north was an important part of their effort to engage the entire province of Alberta in the upcoming tournament.

That said, Fort McMurray stood out.

“We were very much aware of what hockey means to Fort Mac, and the amount of energy that’s gone into supporting the local teams there,” Coates said.

“We just thought it was the most deserving of anything that came across our desk.”

Coates says the team is already excited about arriving in Fort McMurray on Sunday morning.

“We’re really looking forward to getting in there in the morning, having the [Maple Leaf] Luncheon, playing the game, shaking some hands, and seeing the smiles on people’s faces there,” Coates said.

“We made a really good decision.”

Although the Red and White game is an intrasquad game, Coates said there will be plenty of urgency on the ice.

“This is a very critical weekend for all of these young men – in order to show whatever they’ve got to try to stand out from the rest of the pack.”

The camp is the first step in paring down the Team Canada roster from 47 to the 22 who will represent their country in Edmonton this December and January.

Red and White game tickets are still available at the Casman Centre. The game begins at 6 p.m. on Sunday, and will be broadcast live on Country 93.3 starting at 5:45.