With the Wheat Kings already undermanned, it’s a tough time for them to lose two additional bodies. This time, however, they’re down a couple of players for a reason worth celebrating.
Forward Jaxon Jacobson and defenseman Giorgos Pantelas are headed to Sarnia to represent Team Canada at the World Under-17 Challenge this week. They continue a long tradition of Wheat Kings players wearing the Maple Leaf on the international stage.
Jacobson, who has not yet turned 16 years old and won’t until December, has 12 points in 13 games for the Wheat Kings overall and holds the longest active point streak on the team at six games. He’ll be a key player for Team Canada Red at the event.
“He continues to be a point producer every night for us,” said head coach and GM Marty Murray. “He’s the type of kid that’s probably going in there to try to be the best player in the tournament. That’s the kind of mentality he has and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is.”
Pantelas, who scored his first WHL goal against the Seattle Thunderbirds on October 18, has been an incredibly steady force for the Wheat Kings on the back end. His physical play has been eye-opening, and his calm puck movement belies his youth.
“Gio has really come along,” said Murray. “Talking to Team Canada, they were really impressed with him when they came and scouted him earlier in the year. He keeps it simple, but he can thread a needle on a pass. For a 16-year-old, the way he can rip the puck a couple zones up to a guy’s tape is pretty impressive.”
In spite of his impressive start, and the fact that he drew rave reviews at Canada’s summer evaluation camp, Pantelas said he was still a little surprised to learn he’d be representing his country.
“I got a call about four hours before a game, I was about to take a nap, and it was from (Marty Murray),” he said. “I was thinking, ‘Am I a scratch this game?’ But luckily he was congratulating me on making Team Canada, which was great to hear. Obviously we all hope to play (for Canada) but I was trying to be a little realistic and preparing for the fact I wouldn’t make it. But I’m happy to be representing Canada!”
The World Under-17 Challenge begins on November 1 and runs until November 9. The Wheat Kings play three games in that time, beginning on Saturday, November 2 when they host the Medicine Hat Tigers.
