Nov. 29, 2010
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame sophomore center Riley Sheahan (St. Catharine’s, Ont.) is one of 39 Canadian hockey players born in 1991 or later to be invited to Canada’s World Junior Hockey Selection Camp that will be held Dec. 12-15 at the Mastercard Centre in Toronto, Ont.
Sheahan is one of four Division I college players to be invited to the camp that includes 18 players that have been selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. Joining Sheahan from the college ranks are defenseman Dylan Olsen (Minnesota-Duluth) and forwards Jaden Schwartz (Colorado College) and Reilly Smith (Miami). All participating players are eligible to compete at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championships that will be held Dec. 26, 2010 to Jan. 5, 2011 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Besides the four college players, the selection camp roster is made up of 17 players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), 11 players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), six players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and one player from the American Hockey League (AHL).
Thirty-four of the 39 players have been drafted in either 2009 or 2010 with 18 going in the first round, four in the second round and five more in the third round. Three players at the selection camp are eligible for the 2011 draft an one is eligible for the 2013 draft. The final player not drafted, J.P. Anderson, signed as a free agent with San Jose in the summer of 2010.
Born Dec. 7, 1991, the 18-year-old Sheahan was one of 41 players to attend Hockey Canada’s Developmental Camp last August in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Sheahan is in his second season at Notre Dame and through the first 15 games of the 2010-11 season has no goals with five assists for five points with four penalties for eight minutes. As a freshman in 2009-10, he tied for the team lead among freshmen scorers with six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 37 games with 22 minutes in penalties.
Following the season, the 6-2, 205-pound forward was selected in the first round of the National Hockey League Draft, 21st overall by the Detroit Red Wings. He is the first Notre Dame player ever to be invited to Canada’s World Junior Hockey selection camp.
Prior to attending Notre Dame, Sheahan played two seasons of Junior B hockey for the St. Catharine’s Falcons of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Golden Horseshoe Division. He led the team in scoring both years and was a two-time Most Valuable Player.