Two Calgary Hitmen named to Hockey Canada development camp

Two Calgary Hitmen will find themselves amongst some of the league’s top NHL prospects during a summer development camp.

The camp, which takes place between July 27 and Aug. 4 in Plymouth, Michigan, centres around Hockey Canada’s junior team development program.

Representing the Hitmen will be C Carson Focht and D Jett Woo, the latter acquired during May’s WHL Bantam Draft.

Hockey Canada’s camp centres around preparation for the 2020 World Juniors, the Hitmen said in a statement.

Focht is one of 25 forwards while Woo is one of 13 defenceman — in total, they make up two of 12 WHL prospects invited to the camp.

“We’re very pleased with the group that will be brought together in Plymouth,” said Shawn Bullock, director of men’s national teams in a statement. “This is a development opportunity for some of the younger athletes, and it’s a great opportunity for our coaching staff and players to start developing solid relationship ahead of the World Juniors.”

Focht is coming off a career year with the Hitmen having posted 64 points in 68 games; it’s a far reach from the previous career high of 17 points in 32 games.

Covering the Hitmen beat for Postmedia as the team wound down their regular season and began their push into the second round of the playoffs, I was quite impressed with Focht.

He isn’t the biggest centre at six-feet tall, 178 lbs, but he is a very smart player who did a great job of getting himself to the right spots.

Focht really turned it on in the second half of the season, and I know the team will be looking for big things from a budding star in the league next season.

Woo was acquired in a blockbuster deal by the Hitmen at the WHL draft.

Picked up out of Moose Jaw, the Hitmen shipped out their first round pick in the draft, a second round pick in 2021 along with defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko and forward Ryder Korczak.

Woo solidified himself as a top WHL defender last season as the Vancouver Canucks prospect scored 66 points in 62 games.

Next season, it’s likely he will lineup alongside D Egor Zamula on the Hitmen’s top pairing — one that will contest as the best top pairing in the league.

On Twitter: @zjlaing