Riley looking to crack Canada East roster for World Challenge

Timmins Rock goalie Dryden Riley had the chance to face off against one of his potential Canada East teammates during his squad’s 8-2 win over forward Cameron Menard and his Espanola Paper Kings teammates at the McIntyre Arena Friday night. Riley, Menard and Greater Sudbury Cubs forward Mason Walker will be the three NOJHL stars trying to crack the Canada East roster when the selection camp opens in Camrose, Alberta, on Tuesday. THOMAS PERRY/THE DAILY PRESS jpg, TD, apsmc

Timmins Rock goalie Dryden Riley is one of only three NOJHL players selected to attend the Canada East selection camp for the 2024 Junior ‘A’ World Challenge.


Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network


Riley will be joined at the camp, which gets underway Tuesday, by Espanola Express forward Cameron Menard and Greater Sudbury Cubs forward Mason Walker, the other two NOJHL players looking to crack the Canada East roster.

Prior to heading west for the camp, Riley was in net for the Rock during Friday night’s 8-2 victory over the Paper Kings, limiting one of his potential Canada East teammates, Menard, to an assist.

“It was thrilling, right away, I was so excited, I called my parents right away,” he said, describing his reaction to learning the news.

“Perrs (Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry) called me into his room and we were just chatting and he said, ‘hey man, you are coming to Alberta with me for the Canada East selection camp,’ and I was just speechless.

“I am so thankful for this opportunity and now I just have to go prove myself.”

With four goalies invited to the camp, Riley isn’t too sure how many Canada East will carry on its roster for the 2024 Junior ‘A’ World Challenge.

“I would assume, two or three,” he said. “So, they are going to at least cut one and the only thing I think I have to do to ensure I am one of those two or three goalies who makes the team is work as hard as I can and never give up on a puck. That’s what coaches like is the battle.”

Riley’s competition will come from Carter Nadon, of the OJHL’s Haliburton County Huskies, Brett Ruddy, of the CCHL’s Hawksbury Hawks, and Noah Tegelaar, of the OJHL’s Collingwood Blues.

“I have checked them out, to see how they have been doing,” Riley said. “I am a little bit younger than them, but I am looking forward to seeing them in action in camp.”

Riley (2,611:00, 34-9-1-0, 3, 2.37, .919) is confident the season and a half he has spent with the Rock has prepared him for the challenge of making the Canada East roster.

“It has been great for my development as a hockey player, but also as a person,” he said.

“Having (current Rock assistant coach) Patrick Boivin last year as a role model, as an older guy, was awesome. Being on the ice every day, facing our awesome shooters, and running Perrs’ drills has made it easier to get better.”

Getting back to one of his potential teammates, did he get a chance to chat with Menard during Friday night’s contest?

“Honestly, I wasn’t too sure what was going on because he was coming behind the net and he gave me a pretty big slash in the pads,” Riley said. “I was a little curious, because we are going to be together in less than a week. I will try to make peace with him, but he had to be frustrated because it was a tough game.”

Other than that on-ice exchange, Riley doesn’t know either Menard or Walker personally.

“I know of them, they are both definitely great hockey players and I love watching them,” he said.

Riley acknowledged he will feel a little more comfortable at the selection camp given his coach will be one of the Canada East assistant coaches for the 2024 Junior ‘A’ World Challenge.

“It will be a great comfort to know someone there,” he said. “I am still going to be out of my comfort zone, but the best opportunity to be great is when you are out of your comfort zone, pushing your boundaries.”

Riley has never been to Alberta before, although his parents lived out there for a few years.

“They might come out, but this is going to be the first time for me,” he said.

Perry is confident Riley has what it takes to make the Canada East roster after watching him play night-in and night-out for the past season and a half.

“Dryden is just going to have to play the way he has played for us the last year and a half,” he said, when asked what he feels Riley will need to do to lock up one of the spots on the team.

“He just turned 17 in October and his Junior ‘A’ record is what, 34-9-1-0? He is a very, very good goalie. He is composed, he is confident, never out of position. He has just got to play his game and he will be fine.”

Perry will serve as one of coach Bruce Richardson’s two assistant coaches for the 2024 Junior ‘A’ World Challenge.

As part of the Canada East selection camp, players will participate in practices and play a pair of intra-squad games as part of the final evaluation process.

The final Canada East roster will be named Dec. 5 in advance of the tournament, which runs from Dec. 9-15 in Camrose, Alberta.

Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, said, “This is the first time since 2022 we are taking the opportunity to hold a camp before naming our teams for the Junior ‘A’ World Challenge. In partnership with the CJHL, we have identified the top 60 Junior ‘A’ players in the country. We expect a competitive three days before we narrow our rosters down to the two teams that will proudly represent Canada in Camrose.”

Ahead of the tournament, Canada East and Canada West will play a pair of pre-tournament games. On Dec. 7, Canada East will face off against Sweden at the Drumheller Memorial Arena, at 3 p.m. MT, while Canada West will play the United States, at 4:30 p.m. MT, at Co-Op Place in Wetaskiwin.

The puck drops on the tournament Dec. 9, when Canada East, the 2023 silver medallist, opens against the United States, at 3 p.m. MT, followed by Canada West, the defending gold medallist, facing Sweden at 7:30 p.m. MT.