The Canadian Hockey League’s top goal scorer is going to get a chance to represent his country.

Swift Current Broncos sniper Tyler Steenbergen has earned an invite to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp.

“A tremendous honour for Tyler,” said Broncos Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Manny Viveiros. “Also for our organization. We’re very excited for Tyler. It’s no surprise and well deserved. Here is a young man that everything he has done this year and last year it’s all about hard work. We’re very, very happy for him and wish him all the best hoping he makes Team Canada.”



Steenbergen leads the WHL with 35 goals in 27 games. He tied for the league’s goal scoring crown last season with 51 goals before being drafted by the Arizona Coytoes.

Viveiros, who played for Canada at the World Juniors in 1985-86, noted his advice to Steenbergen would be pretty simple.

“I think more than anything is just be himself,” Viveiros said. “Let his personality take over. He’s a wonderful young man in the dressing room and a great team guy. His work ethic on the ice… once they see him on a daily basis what a young professional this kid is… as far as I’m concerned he’s ahead of his time as far as his age at 19. Everything will take care of itself. Don’t be nervous. This is a chance of a lifetime and something you’ll never forget. He’s got to go in there and just be himself and not try to be something that he’s not. He’ll be absolutely fine.”

Canada also invited Shaunavon product Kole Lind of the Kelowna Rockets. The Vancouver Canucks draft pick has 12 goals and 22 assists in 21 games so far this season.

“It’s really a body of work,” said Program of Excellence Head Scout and former Broncos Coach/GM Brad McEwan during the announcement. “It’s not just September until now. This is something that’s been going for four years and we feel real comfortable with where we are. We feel very comfortable with the players we’ve invited today.”

The Broncos now face the daunting task of playing without one and likely two of the CHL's best players for the next month.

"I go back to last year when we had a lot of injuries," Viveiros said. "It's a great opportunity for other guys to step up with extra ice time. It's a great opportunity for someone else to play with Glenn Gawdin. We need guys to come up. They're going to get more ice time and great experience. At the end of the day we'd love to have Tyler in our lineup every game, but this experience some of these young kids are going to get is going to pay dividends for us in the second half and into the playoffs."

The Broncos won't be the only East Division team dealing with missing stars. Brett Howden (Moose Jaw), Sam Steele (Regina), Josh Mahura (Regina), Tanner Kaspick (Brandon) and Kale Clague (Brandon) also received invites to the camp.

Steenbergen could be the first Broncos player to suit up for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship since defenceman Dillon Heatherington in 2014-15.

Hockey Canada invited 32 players to camp including seven returning players and 13 WHLers. The camp runs from December 12th through the 15th in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Canada opens the tournament in Buffalo on Boxing Day against a Team Finland club that will likely have Broncos forward Aleksi Heponiemi on their roster.