FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
TWO VEES ALUMNI CRACK USA CAMP ROSTER
PENTICTON, BC–Mario Lucia (Notre Dame / Wild ’12) and Mike Reilly (Minnesota / Blue Jackets ’12) were named to USA Hockey’s 27-man preliminary roster Tuesday for the 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships. The two Vees alumni will attend camp December 16th-18th in Tarrytown, New York. An additional camp will follow in Helsinki, Finland, with the final 23-man roster announced on December 23rd.
Last season, the two played their first and only season in the BCHL, helping guide the Vees to their second National Championship and first in 26 years.
Lucia finished second in team scoring, with 94 points in 56 games and finished tied for first in league scoring (42) with teammate Bryce Gervais. Those numbers resulted in Lucia being named BCHL Interior Conference Rookie of the Year. Lucia is coming off a three-goal weekend versus Lake Superior State, which earned him CCHA Rookie of the Week honours. Since returning from a broken leg in August, Lucia has four goals and five points in six games.
Reilly has had a solid start to his freshman season at the University of Minnesota. In 15 games with the Gophers, Reilly has one goal and eight points, helping the Gophers to a 10-3-2 record and a top four ranking in Division l Men’s Hockey. Last season, the Chanhassen, Minnesota native led all BCHL defenseman in goals (24), assists (59) and points (83) and won the Interior Conference Defenseman of the Year award.
The 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship is December 26th-January 5th in Ufa, Russia. Team USA opens the 10 team tournament on December 27th versus Germany.
CONTACT: FRASER RODGERS
Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations
Penticton Vees Hockey Club
FraserRodgers@gmail.com / (250) 809-1390
