Winnipeg Blues teammates and 2013 NHL Draft prospects Paul Stoykewych and Kurt Keats were named Thursday to the Canada West team for the World Junior A Hockey Challenge.

The tournament will be played Nov. 5-11 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Stoykewych, a 6-foot-0.25, 200-pound defenseman, earned a B rating from NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary rankings of players to watch for this year's draft. He has 10 points in 15 games this season for the team, which plays in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. He's committed to Western Michigan University starting in the fall of 2013.

Keats, a 5-7.5, 163-pound forward earned a C rating from Central Scouting. He's tied for seventh in the league with 20 points in 15 games.

Also picked for the team was defenseman Nolan De Jong, who plays for the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League. A 6-foot, 165-pound blueliner, De Jong has 12 points in 17 games and earned a B rating from Central Scouting. He's committed to the University of Michigan starting next season.

"As with any Team Canada roster, there were a number of difficult choices to get us to 22 players," coach Dean Brockman said. "We're excited about the roster we've put together, and we're confident this team will represent western Canada with pride in Yarmouth."

Of the 22 players picked, 20 are eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft. Players were selected from the five western Junior A leagues: the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK

Seth Jones had 26 points in 48 games for the U.S. National Team Development Program last season. He hadn't scored at quite that level in his first few games this season with the Portland Winterhawks. But it's not that he wasn't playing well -- far from it, according to scouts who have raved about Jones' defensive-zone play and all-round game.

"This year he's playing smarter," NHL Central Scouting's Peter Sullivan told NHL.com. "He's not trying to be as explosive with his skating ability that he has. He's playing a smarter game. Every time you get the puck, don't take off. Make good plays with it -- and he is. He's playing really smart this year. Last year with the [USNTDP] he took off every time, trying to be Bobby Orr. This year he's playing it a lot smarter, playing very well defensively. I just think he's playing a smarter game this year than he did as an underage."

Highly touted prospect Seth Jones has four goals, six assists and a plus-7 rating in 13 games. (Courtesy: Christopher Mast)

"I like his ability to control the game," B.J. MacDonald of Central Scouting said. "His puckhandling skills and his great awareness, that seems to be his strength. He's really aware of everything on the ice and where everyone is and where to move the puck. And defensively, [he's] the same way. I really like his overall awareness. His on-ice awareness is excellent."

The past six games, though, show he's added that high-end offensive component to his defensive excellence, and showed why he's neck-and-neck with Halifax's Nathan MacKinnon to be the first pick of the 2013 NHL Draft.

Jones had a goal and an assist Wednesday in a 5-2 defeat of the Everett Silvertips. The goal was a dazzling display of Jones' full range of skills. Taking a pass at the defensive blue line, he raced the puck into the Everett end, cut to his left as he crossed the attacking blue line and pulled up above the circle like he was going to take a shot. Instead, he caught the defending player flat-footed and skated past him to the outside. As he approached the net, he quickly switched the puck from his backhand to his forehand and slid the puck under the goalie.

During the last few years, the Phoenix Coyotes have adopted a diverse set of initiatives, practices and building management policies to become a more sustainable organization.

Perhaps the most innovative and effective environmental effort at Jobing.com Arena, home of the Coyotes, is the facility's energy-saving demand response program.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, demand response is the voluntary reduction in electricity demand in response to an electric grid emergency.

Practically speaking, electricity cannot be easily stored on a large scale. As a result, supply and demand must remain in balance in real time. Traditionally, utilities have leveraged carbon-emitting peaking power plants to increase power generation to meet demand. In some circumstances, utilities have built new power plants to meet that end.

Five years ago, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) launched Team Up Green, an environmental effort that would significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at the Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The venue's sustainability plan set goals to reduce energy usage by 30 percent, reduce the carbon footprint by 30 percent and divert 95 percent of waste to landfill by 2013.

Through a range of practical, cost-effective and community-focused solutions, combined with several capital projects aimed at improving the venue's efficiency, records taken earlier this year show that the Air Canada Centre has achieved impressive results; including a 74 percent reduction in waste and a carbon footprint reduction of 34 percent within the first three years, two years ahead of the scheduled target. In September, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a full case study detailing the ACC's challenges and achievements.

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies teammates and 2013 NHL Draft prospects Jean-Sebastien Dea and Sven Andrighetto continued their battle for the lead in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring race Wednesday, combining for three goals and two assists as the Huskies beat the visiting Sherbrooke Phoenix 6-3.

The duo, linemates since last season, are a major reason the Huskies lead the Telus West Division and have remained close to the streaking Halifax Mooseheads, who have won 13 in a row.

Dea, who had a goal and two assists Wednesday, has held the scoring lead most of the season. His 34 points put him one ahead of Andrighetto, who scored two goals Wednesday.

With 18 goals, Dea is tied with Halifax's Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead, while Andrighetto tops the QMJHL with 19 assists.

Hockey Canada on Thursday announced the 22 players who will represent Canada East at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge to be held Nov. 5-11 at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

The roster was named following a four-day selection camp, Oct. 28-31, at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto. Greg Walters, who coaches the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, will coach the team.

Heading the roster is Matt Buckles, a center with the St. Michael's Buzzers (OJHL). The 6-foot-1.25, 205-pound forward leads the team with 12 goals and 25 points in 18 games. He was most recently given a C rating from NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary rankings of players to watch for the 2013 NHL Draft.

Three other players on the roster earned C rankings from Central Scouting, including defenseman Christian Weidauer of Carleton Place Canadiens of the Central Canada Hockey League; and forwards Blaine Byron of Kemptville 73's (CCHL) and Troy Josephs of St. Michael's (OJHL).

Two players on the roster are returning from the 2011 WJAC -- forwards Justin Danforth of the Cobourg Cougars (OJHL) and Michael Neville of St. Michael's (OJHL).

"Getting down to 22 players was no easy feat, especially considering the talent we had in Toronto this week," Walters said. "As a coaching staff, we're confident we've assembled the best roster and we look forward to getting to Nova Scotia and getting started."

Canada East, which has appeared in four of the six gold medal games at the WJAC, won silver in 2006, '07, '10 and '11. The team will compete in Group B, along with Switzerland and the United States. Canada West, the Czech Republic and Russia will comprise Group A.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale

The American Red Cross is responding across multiple states affected by Hurricane Sandy. The NHL is encouraging fans to donate to the Red Cross disaster relief fund to help victims.

Donations help the Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected.

To donate, people can visit the NHL microsite on Redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

A pair of 2013 NHL Draft prospects -- Medicine Hat Tigers center Curtis Valk and Peterborough Petes goalie Michael Giugovaz -- have been named player of the week and goalie of the week, respectively, by the Canadian Hockey League.

Valk, named WHL player of the week Monday, earned the CHL Player of the Week honor after totaling seven goals and three assists in four games last week. He scored two goals Wednesday in a 4-3 shootout win against the Kelowna Rockets, and followed that with his best game of the season -- four goals and an assist in a 10-1 win at the Calgary Hitmen on Friday. He had two assists in a 5-4 defeat of the Regina Pats on Saturday, and capped his big week with a goal in a 3-2 overtime win against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Sunday.

Now with a point in seven straight games, Valk is fourth in the WHL with 25 points, and tied for second with 14 goals.

Giugovaz earned the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week award after stopping 80 of 83 shots in winning both his starts last week. Recently promoted to a B-rated player in NHL Central Scouting's preliminary rankings of players to watch for this year's draft, Giugovaz started his week by making 35 saves -- including 18 in the third period -- in 3-1 defeat of the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday. He then made 45 saves, plus two in a shootout, in a 3-2 defeat of the Oshawa Generals on Sunday.

A pair of Waterloo Black Hawks players considered candidates to go in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft were honored by the United States Hockey League for their play last week.

Defenseman Ian McCoshen has been named CCM Defenseman of the Week after totaling a goal, two assists and a plus-8 rating in three games last week. He scored his first goal of the season Friday in a 3-0 win against the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He was scoreless with a plus-2 rating in a 3-2 win at Team USA on Saturday, and had two assists in an 8-3 defeat of the Youngstown Phantoms on Sunday. He wasn't on the ice for any of the five goals Waterloo allowed last week, and played a key role in the team killing all 13 opposing power plays.

For the season McCoshen, who earned an A rating from NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary rankings of players to watch for the 2013 NHL Draft, leads the USHL with a plus-13 rating. In eight games, he's been a plus player in six and an even player in the other two. He also has a goal and three assists.

Eamon McAdam, a B-rated prospect, was named Reebok Goaltender of the Week after stopping 72 of 75 shots in two games last week. He stopped all 33 shots in Friday's win against Muskegon for his second shutout of the season. On Sunday he made a season-high 39 saves on 42 shots in an 8-3 win against Youngstown.

McAdam has won all five of his starts, allowing just seven goals on 177 shots. He leads the league with two shutouts and a .960 save percentage and is fourth with a 1.40 goals-against average.

Medicine Hat Tigers center Curtis Valk was named Denny's WHL Player of the Week on Monday after totaling seven goals and three assists in four games last week.

Valk, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound center, opened his week with two goals Wednesday in a 4-3 shootout win against the Kelowna Rockets. Friday was a memorable night as he scored four goals and added an assist in a 10-1 win at the Calgary Hitmen. He had a pair of assists in a 5-4 win against the Regina Pats on Saturday, and finished his week with a goal in a 3-2 overtime win against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

With his big week, the 2013 NHL Draft-eligible forward is second in goals in the WHL with 14, and fourth with 25 points.