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Ryan Murray Named Captain of Hockey Canada's Ivan Hlinka Squad
Everett Silvertips Press Release

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Murray will serve as Team Captain of Canada's U-18 squad despite being the youngest player on the team.
Everett, WA - Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that Silvertips defenseman Ryan Murray has been named the Team Captain of the Under-18 team that will compete at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament, held in Slovakia and the Czech Republic from August 9-14.

Murray, entering his 17-year old year, produced a standout rookie campaign for the Silvertips in which he tallied 27 points on five goals and 22 assists in 52 games played along with a +33 rating. The 6'0, 185 pound defenseman out of White City, Saskatchewan, was Everett's first round selection (eighth overall) in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft and is not draft eligible until 2012. He was named the Silvertips' Rookie of the Year by the coaching staff and will be the youngest member of the U-18 team heading to Europe.

The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament becomes Murray's third exposure to international competition after he represented Hockey Canada at the World U-18 Championships in Belarus in April and suited up for Team West at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Ontario in December/January.

Murray becomes the seventh Silvertip to participate in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, following Leland Irving, Brady Calla, Zach Hamill, Shane Harper, Vitaly Karamnov and Kyle Beach. The tournament honors the late Ivan Hlinka, a former Czechoslovakian national team player and coach.

Canada, winners of five of the previous six Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournaments, will be competing in Group B with Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland and will be based in Piestany, Slovakia. Opening against Sweden on Monday, August 9, Canada looks to return to the gold medal game scheduled for Saturday, August 14.

Updates on Murray's performance of the tournament will be provided by EverettSilvertips.com and on Twitter, via @WHLsilvertips. HockeyCanada.ca will offer complete coverage of the event, including recaps and schedules.

The Silvertips begin their eighth season in the Western Hockey League at home on Friday, September 24th against the rival Seattle Thunderbirds. For interviews, feature articles, and information on season tickets and ticket packages, please visit www.everettsilvertips.com or call (425) 252-5100 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (425) 252-5100 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.