Liam Liston is in select company after attending Hockey Canada's fifth annual Program of Excellence goaltending camp in Calgary.
His performance earned the Brandon Wheat Kings' prospect an invite to the U18 selection camp in late July to determine the national team for the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in August.
"It's awesome," an excited Liston told the Gazette Thursday. "First of all, just to get invited to the [goaltending] camp was a huge step for me considering I played midget this year. I've got confidence now that I can succeed at that level and play at the junior level comfortably."
Also making the cut were Robin Gusse (Chicoutimi/QMJHL), Tyson Teichmann (Belleville/OHL) and Jeff Noonan (Quebec midget AAA).
"Hopefully I'm one of the two guys they will bring to the Czech Republic for the tournament," Liston said.
The four-day session wrapped up Sunday for five U18 prospects, as well as nine goalies eligible for the U20 world junior team's summer camp, including St. Albert product Tyler Bunz of the Medicine Hat Tigers.
"I had a couple of doubts in my mind when I got there but I was able to draw on my experience from the world under-17 championship at Christmas and that little experience I had in the western league and used it to my advantage as much as I could," said Liston, the third round pick (57th overall) by the Wheaties in the 2008 Western Hockey League bantam draft.
Among the instructors were Andy Moog and Ron Tugnutt.
"Obviously they've had really distinguished professional hockey careers and to be able to listen to their stories and their advice was a huge help for me."
There were no scrimmages or practices at the camp, but the promising netminders were tested by college and WHL players shooting at them.
"It was one-to-one instructor/student ratio with the best goalie coaches in Canada," Liston said. "They ran us through our paces during the four days. They also got to know us and we got to know them. They also introduced us to what the expectations will be for the next couple of years in the Program of Excellence."
Stellar season
The midget AAA all-star with the St. Albert Raiders left the camp feeling good about himself.
"Because I played midget I guess I viewed myself as being inferior to those guys because of that but coming out of it, I'm more confident in myself. I realized I've been invited to all these events for a reason and that's because I can do certain things very well. I just have to continue to improve on everything and believe in myself."
At the U17 worlds the only midget player on Team Pacific started three games. He posted 16 saves in blanking the Czech Republic 3-0 and was in net in losses of 6-2 against Russia and 2-1 against the United States as Team Pacific finished fifth overall.
With the Raiders the Grade 11 St. Albert Catholic High School student posted a league-leading 16-3-3 record and was second in minutes played at 1,238. He also tied teammate Brad Miller for the lowest goals-against average at 2.23.
Liston's accomplishments were rewarded as the recipient of the league's Bill Ranford Trophy as the top goalie. The last Raider to win the award was Jamie McLennan in 1988. The list of distinguished winners includes Cam Ward (2001), Tyson Sexsmith (2004) and Sam Brittain (2009), a potential 2010 NHL draft pick who played for the Canmore Eagles in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
"I feel really honoured to have my name in the same company of those guys," Liston said.
The Raiders were also presented with the Cam Ward Award for the least goals against with 80 in 35 games for the 23-6-6 St. Albert team.
Memorial Cup
After a shorter than expected playoff run by the talent-laden Raiders in which Liston suffered a torn groin, the former bantam AAA Sabres and midget 15 Flyer was recalled by the host team for the Memorial Cup on March 29 as its third-string goalie.
"I joined Brandon after the first round, when my physio was done with my injury, and for two months I was part of arguably the best team in the Western Hockey League," he said. "The environment there was so much different than a lot of junior teams in that we had so many pro prospects and signed players. We went about things very business-like and maybe that was our downfall. Perhaps we took things too seriously and didn't take the time to enjoy it but nevertheless we were one of the last two junior teams playing in the country. Even though it didn't really go our way in the final, we lost to a heck of a hockey team in Windsor and all the props to them."
Liston was thrilled to be part of the ride.
"Brandon is a pretty small town and the Memorial Cup was a big thing there. People were saying it might be the biggest event that Manitoba has ever hosted," he said. "Playing midget around here, you don't get the same atmosphere that you get at junior hockey games in a small town like that, especially when we played Calgary in the semifinal. They had ousted us out of the Western Hockey League playoffs a couple of weeks earlier so to take that game into overtime and to it win to go to the final was probably one of the best experiences of my life so far even though I wasn't on the ice."
The closest Liston got to ice level at the Memorial Cup was during the pre-game introductions.
"That was pretty cool, especially to wear the ceremonial jersey that they would later put up for auction."
It fetched $1,500 by a fan that out-bid Liston's dad, John, for the jersey.
"I guess that's what I'm worth," Liam said with a laugh.
This weekend he will watch the NHL entry draft with interest, especially since 2011 is his draft year. His buddy, Bunz, is also a potential pick as the 10th ranked North American goalie in the draft.
"He's a really close friend of mine and somebody I've looked up to ever since I was little. Even though I was only a year behind him he showed me the way to do things professionally. I'm hoping for the best for him. I'm going to go out on the limb and say his chances are pretty good he will get drafted," said Liston, who will be represented by agent Peter Semonick when his dream of playing pro hockey comes to fruition.
