Michigan sophomore forward Jeff Tambellini is the lone NCAA representative at the Team Canada World Junior Selection Camp, being held in Kitchener, Ont., Dec. 11-15.
The invite will keep Tambellini away from the Wolverines’ games on Dec. 12-13 at Nebraska-Omaha. If he makes the team, he will also miss the Great Lakes Invitational. This year’s World Junior Championships are being held Dec. 26, 2003 — Jan. 6, 2004 in Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland. Michigan goaltender Al Montoya will participate in the championships for Team USA.
Last year, Cornell goalie Dave LeNeveu was the NCAA’s lone representative on Team Canada, though he eventually lost the No. 1 job to Marc-Andre Fleury, the eventual first overall pick in last June’s NHL Draft.
Tambellini was a first-round pick in June’s draft as well. This season, he has nine goals and 12 points in 14 games. Last season, Tambellini picked up 26 goals and 45 points in 43 games while being named CCHA Rookie of the Year.
