For the first time ever, two Nanaimo Clippers were part of Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. Ethan Scardina and Kyler Kovich lived out childhood dreams of playing hockey for their country. (Dan Marshall NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Dan Marshall

Clippers Represent Canada

Scardina and Kovich play for Team Canada West at World Junior A Challenge

Dec 19, 2019 | 5:43 PM

NANAIMO – In junior hockey the month of December offers a break from club competition as the top players from around the world get together to play for their countries.

The World Junior Hockey Championship garners the most attention but the World Junior A Challenge is another high level event that featured a pair of Nanaimo Clippers.

Captain Ethan Scardina and second year veteran Kyler Kovich got the chance to don the maple leaf and play for Team Canada West at the five team tournament.

Canada had two entries, a Team West and a Team East, with the United States, Russia and the Czech Republic also icing squads.

Canada West finished 1-3 and didn’t make the playoffs but for Scardina representing his country was a dream come true.

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“I grew up watching the World Juniors and the Olympics and watching players put on that jersey and I got the opportunity to do that. It was unbelievable.”

When the tryouts were initially announced Scardina wasn’t on the list, but he got a call on the way to a Clippers road game in Wenatchee confirming he’d get the chance to compete for a spot.

That call came in on Nov. 28, he took to the ice for tryouts in Calgary on Dec. 1, made the team on Dec. 3 and was playing in the tournament by the Dec. 7.

Kovich was announced on the initial tryout list and went through the same camp as Scardina.

The 17-year-old said it was an honour to play for Canada.

“I developed some relationships and was able to meet some coaches. I’m looking forward to hopefully being able to play in that tournament next year too.”

Nanaimo has had several camp invitees since the tournament began in 2006, but this is the first time that two Clippers got to play in the same event.

The last Clipper to play for Canada West was Sheldon Rempal in 2014.

Russell Goodman represented Canada in 2007 and Kyle Ostrow played in the first tournament in 2006.

Getting to play internationally is not just an honour for the players, but for the families as well.

Kovich said having his family share in the experience was special for him.

“My mom and dad made the trip up to Dawson Creek for the Russia and Czech games, we were hoping it was going to be for longer (the playoff round) but it was nice having them for those two games.”

Scardina’s dad was there for the whole week and his mom came towards the end to watch him as well.

Both players will bring back a lot of memories and also their Team Canada jerseys.

Kovich wore his usual number 18 and Scardina was given 19.

Scardina already has a plan for where his jersey will go.

“Every year my parents give me either a Canadian or Canucks jersey with the number of how old I am that year. They didn’t give me one this year, but I’m going to have my number 19 jersey up in my room.”

The World Junior A Challenge seems to have given both players a boost as Scardina and Kovich each recorded three points in their first two games back in the Clipper lineup after the tournament.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77