The Pipeline Show is pleased to welcome yet another guest blogger as we ramp up our draft countdown and coverage. Penning his thoughts will be Camrose Kodiak Defenceman Dylan Olsen who is ranked 34th by
ISS for the upcoming draft. Look for his first entry in the next week.
The Calgary kid put up 10 goals and 29 points in 53 games this year for Camrose, his second season with the Kodiaks. 5 of his goals came on the power play and the 6.02, 205 pound rearguard picked up more than 120 penalty minutes. He also notched 7 points in 10 playoff games before Camrose was eliminated. Olsen has committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Olsen represented Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in November, a tournament held in Camrose, and TPS has learned, Olsen will be picked to wear the Maple Leaf once again this Spring at the Under 18's in Fargo. Team Canada is meeting April 2nd in Minnesota to get ready for the tournament that starts April 9th.
Canada is the defending champions after blowing out Russia 8-0 in last year's final.
I'm not sure when Canada's roster will be officially released, but I'm wondering if Oil Kings blueliner Mark Pysyk will be on it. Sure he's only 16 but he was terrific this year for the Kings playing more than 20 minutes a night, steadying the back end and running the power play. He might not have the points of a Jordan Weal in Regina, but he was just as effective when it comes to first year players.
The winner of the 2010 World Junior Championship will be decided on January 5th in Saskatoon but it will be hard to match the drama that unfolded the last time 'Toon Town' hosted the event. Back in the days when it was only a round robin tournament, Canada won their first gold medal on home soil thanks to a late third period goal from a most unlikely source.
