Beck Malenstyn joins some elite company by suiting up for Canada at this week's World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Sarnia, ON.
The 16-year-old forward from Ladner is playing for Canada Black - one of three host teams as part of Hockey Canada's revamped U17 men's program.
Past tournaments have featured regional squads taking on international entries, including Team Pacific - made up exclusively of B.C. and Alberta talent.
This time, Hockey Canada invited over 100 of the top 1998-born players to Calgary for a summer camp, of which 66 were selected to form three teams. Malenstyn is the only B.C. born player on the Team Black roster.
The World U17 Hockey Challenge features seven other teams - Finland, Russia, United States, Sweden, Slovakia, Canada White and Canada Red.
The tournament, which has been moved up in the hockey calendar from a holiday season start, features a playoff round that starts Thursday and concludes with the gold medal game Saturday.
Malenstyn is currently in his rookie season with the Calgary Hitmen and has two goals in 11 games so far. He was selected 18th overall by Calgary in the 2013 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
After playing in South Delta Minor Hockey's rep system through Pee Wee, Malenstyn took his career to the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton for the past three years.
He managed 26 points, including 15 goals, in 21 games last season after being aged up to play with the OHA's Prep team.
Other South Delta Minor alumni who have recently played in the World U17 Hockey Challenge include: Macoy Erkamps (2012), Ryan Olsen (2011), Brendan Gallagher (2009), Josh Nichols (2009) and Cam Reid (2008).
