Burnaby’s Ryan Helliwell is making waves fast since leaving the Burnaby Winter Club academy.
The 16-year-old defenceman was named this week to the Canada Team Black, one of three Canadian squads that will be in competition at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge next week in New Brunswick.
Helliwell is in his debut season with the B.C. Hockey League’s Langley Rivermen, with seven assists over 16 games.
The 5-foot-11 blueliner recently signed a letter of intent with the University of Notre Dame.
Last year, Helliwell was a key component of the Burnaby academy squad, tallying six goals and 35 assists over 31 games.
In 2016, he captained the bantam Bruins to a Western Canadian bantam championship title, after he was drafted 55th overall by Portland in the Western Hockey League’s bantam draft.
He is one of just five junior A hockey players among 66 chosen to play for Canada at the tournament.
