PHOTO: Garrett James
The Spruce Grove Saints are pleased to announce forward Felix Haibock has been selected to the Austrian Under-20 National Team for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship Division I, Group A in Bled, Slovenia.
Haibock, 19, is set to represent his country for the second time on the U20 stage after getting into five games at last year’s tournament in which Austria fell just short in their quest to join Canada, the United States and others at the WJC in Minnesota. The 6’3″, 209-pound forward has gotten off to a strong start in his BCHL career thus far with the Saints, registering a team-leading nine goals and 15 points in 18 games with Spruce Grove.
The Linz, Austria native will gear up with the Austrian National Team beginning on December 1st when the team meets in Ferlach, Austria to prepare for the tournament. The team’s full roster will be announced on December 5th by Head Coach Philipp Pinter and begin playing tournament games against the host Slovenia on December 7th. Haibock will join Cranbrook Bucks forward Konstantin Hutzinger as the two BCHLers who are competing in the camp in hopes of making the team.
Haibock is set to head out on Sunday, November 30th and, if selected, would remain with the Austrian National team until December 15th and return to Spruce Grove for the team’s final two games ahead of the holiday break.
The Saints kick-off the first of a two-game weekend beginning on Friday night in Blackfalds against the Bulldogs. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM from Eagle Builders Centre with the game being broadcasted live on the Saints Radio Network as well as streamed online on FloHockey.
Spruce Grove returns home to honour the 1975 Centennial Cup champion Mets with replica jerseys and merchandise available at the Saints Store. Puck drop for Sunday afternoon’s matinee contest is slated for 2:00 PM at Thompson Family Arena with tickets available for purchase online at tickets.sgsaints.ca.
