O’BRIEN NAMED TO TEAM USA WORLD JUNIOR TEAM
Hickey invited to Team Canada National Junior Selection Camp
KENT — The Seattle Thunderbirds are pleased to announce center Jim O’Brien today was selected to play for Team USA at the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa from December 26, 2008 to January 5, 2009.
O’Brien, in his second season with the T-Birds, has appeared in 26 games this season and has 10 goals and 16 assists with a plus/minus rating of plus-7.
“I am really excited and honor to be selected to Team USA,” said O’Brien. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to represent my country.”
O’Brien was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round, 29th overall, of the 2007 NHL Draft.
“This was one of Jim’s goals heading into this season and it is exciting to see him get this opportunity to play for Team USA,” said T-Birds general manager Russ Farwell. “He has worked hard to improve his game and it is good to see him recognized for these gains. He will be a very positive addition to Team USA at this tournament.”
Defenseman Thomas Hickey was invited to Team Canada’s National Junior Selection Camp today. The Selection Camp, which has a roster of 38 players, runs from December 11 to December 15. From the results of the Selection Camp Hockey Canada will then set the 22-man roster for Team Canada.
Hickey, selected by the Los Angeles Kings with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2008 World Junior Championship in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic.
Hickey has appeared in 22 games with the T-Birds this season and has six goals and nine assists for 15 point with a plus/minus rating of plus-13.
“As a returning member of the Canadian team Thomas will be counted on to play a major role,” said Farwell. “He always leads by example and will give them both leadership and consistent play as they defend the gold medal.”
The T-Birds next play on Friday, December 5, at Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. They are in Portland to take on the Winter Hawks at 7 p.m. the Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, December 6. The T-Birds are back home on Sunday, December 7, to face the Calgary Hitmen at KeyArena at 5:05 p.m.
Single game tickets for all T-Birds games in the ShoWare Center from January 4 to the end of the season are currently on sale. Tickets to these games can only be purchased by going to the T-Birds website and clicking on the single game tickets link under the Tickets menu. Single game tickets for the games on December 27, 28, 30 and January 3 will go on sale December 12 at 9 a.m. on the T-Birds website.
T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825. Purchasing a season ticket will ensure fans can attend the T-Birds first game in their new home, the ShoWare Center.
