More Burnaby hockey players have answered the call to play for Canada in a major international tournament over the holidays.
The 2023 Spengler Cup — the oldest hockey invitational in the world — is set to get underway in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday, Dec. 26, which includes a team comprised of Canadian players toiling in Europe or not yet in the NHL.
Massimo Rizzo, at 22 years old, is the third youngest athlete on the red and white squad, and will be making his fourth career international appearance.
His fellow Burnaby cohorts Joey LaLeggia, 31, and Tyler Morley, 32, will don the maple leaf for the third and first time respectively following the official roster announcement on Friday, Dec. 22.
However, the pair will have some sort of an edge in leading Canada as both currently play professionally in Switzerland.
All three are looking to claim a 17th Spengler Cup trophy for Canada and their first since 2019. The tournament was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rizzo
Rizzo, a Burnaby Winter Club alumus, was a member of Team Canada West in 2019 and 2020 at the World Jr. "A" Hockey Challenge.
Two years earlier, the centre represented Team Canada Black at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He finished with one goal and three assists over five games at the event in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.
Rizzo's résumé also includes the 2017 BC Hockey League (BCHL) banner with the Penticton Vees and the 2022 NCAA Div. I Championship with the University of Denver.
He's currently playing in his third season for the Pioneers with seven goals and 31 points in 18 regular-season games.
In 2019, Rizzo was taken by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round, 219th overall at the NHL Draft. He's currently an unsigned prospect of the Philadelphia Flyers.
LaLeggia
LaLeggia will be making his third career appearance with Canada — 13 years after his last.
In 2010 and 2011, and like Rizzo, the two-way athlete also played for Team Canada West at the World Jr. "A" Hockey Challenge.
He won the bronze in 2010 and contributed four assists in five games.
Since then, LaLeggia has claimed a 2014 conference title with the University of Denver. With the Pioneers, he was the NCHC rookie of the year (2012) and the best offensive and defensive defenceman in consecutive seasons (2014, 2015).
He suited up for five years in the American Hockey League (AHL), one step below the NHL, before signing overseas to the Swedish league for three seasons.
LaLeggia's first season in Switzerland thus far includes eight goals and 20 points in 29 games for HC Lugano.
Morley
Despite being one of the older players this year, Morley will be a rookie on Canada's Spengler Cup team.
The former Grandview Steeler is skating in his seventh season in a fifth European professional league. Before joining EHC Kloten in Switzerland as a centre, he played in Finland, Sweden, Germany and Croatia.
Morley has posted six goals and 14 points in 21 games to date in the 2023-24 campaign.
Two seasons prior, he won the Liiga title, which is Finland's highest level of pro hockey.
Morley played one full season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, the affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, recording 17 points in 48 games.
Canada will begin its quest for the Spengler Cup on Dec. 26, 11:15 a.m. Pacific time against Frölunda HC (Sweden).
