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It's something not too many people get to experience. To play for Team Canada anywhere, any time is such a great honour. 'There's still a team to make, but it's also a pleasure being here. 'You get treated top-notch here and it was quite the experience. 'I got to come to camp last year and it was so good being around the best players,' Chipchura said. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of sweat and tears.'Ĭanadian junior head coach Brent Sutter, who runs the WHL's Red Deer Rebels as owner, manager and head coach, knew all about Chipchura and didn't hesitate putting him on the tryout roster for this year's Canadian team. 'It was one of those one-in-a-million things. 'It was kind of a freak accident - cut right in half,' said Chipchura, who hails from Vimy, Alta. Five minutes into practice, a skate caught Chipchura in the back of the leg. He had just played for the Western Hockey League all-stars against a touring Russian junior team when he rejoined the Raiders.

Kris Chucko from the University of Minnesota was amazed when informed about his linemate.Ĭhipchura, 19, was a first-round draft of the Montreal Canadiens in 2004 (18th overall) and might have made last year's junior nationals had he not suffered the right-leg injury during practice on Dec. But on the ice it didn't affect me at all.'ĭownie, 18, is from Queensville, Ont., and last season put up 21 goals, 73 points and 179 penalty minutes in the Ontario Hockey League - good enough to be selected 29th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in last month's NHL entry draft.įew players at the junior camp this week were aware of Downie's disability.

STEVE DOWNIE TWITTER FULL

I started not being able to hear watching TV and ended up with the TV at full blast. 'I won't be able to hear people talking if I don't wear 'I can hear but not very well,' Downie said yesterday. Chipchura has skill and size Downie is an energy player.

He's been without hearing in his right ear since he became a teenager and, four years before that, lost his father in an auto accident while they were driving to the rink.Ĭhipchura and Downie, both forwards, are in the mix to earn positions on the Canadian team that will defend its world championship on home ice, starting Dec. Then there's Steve Downie of the Windsor Spitfires, the last one named to Canada's 44-player summer roster, replacing Sidney Crosby after the National Hockey League's top draft choice decided he needed to take care of business with the Pittsburgh Penguins.ĭownie's is a compelling story.

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