Winning the Canada West Rookie of the Year award was just the start of a good 2008 for Gord Perrin. The 6-6 native of Creston, B.C. followed up an allstar selection at the CIS Nationals by being named as one of the 12 players selected for Canada’s National Junior Volleyball Team. This followed a three day training camp in Winnipeg.

"It’s a great honor for Gord," says Wolfpack head coach Pat Hennelly "For Gord to be deemed one of the 12 best players for his age group is a reaffirmation for him." Hennelly is looking forward to seeing Perrin take a new role with the National Team.

"I'm really looking forward to playing for my country again," exclaimed Perrin after learning of his selection "It'll be great playing with some of the new players they brought in." "He was the youngest player on our club this year,’ stated Hennelly "
Now, he’ll get a chance to be a leader. Hopefully, it’ll be a situation where he’ll mature as he plays against the top players in NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation). He’ll train at a high level for the next month and be exposed to what our Senior National Team program does.".

"Camp was tiring," Perrin reflected after the three day affair "I hadn't played in a long time so it took me a while to get back into the swing of things."

Perrin was one of three members of the Wolfpack who attended the National Junior Teams training camp. The others were Middles Stefan Savoie (Winnipeg, Man) and Taylor Verboom (Radium Hot Springs BC).

Savoie was named as one of the two alternates. "He has a chance, as the 4 th Middle, to earn a spot on the travelling squad," says Hennelly. "It’ll be an opportunity for Stef to get some valuable experience and fight for a chance to regain the starting job he had two years ago with the Youth team."

"Right now I don't see myself as a training player. I see it as a chance to show them my best," Said Savoie from Winnipeg. " I don't believe I had the best tryout and I know I have much more to give, so I am confident that I should travel. "

 Savoie is looking translate this opportunity into more playing time in the fall when he returns to TRU. " As for next year I see this as a great opportunity to sharpen my skills and help lead our team to another national medal. "

Perrin sees his selection as a natural progression in his development as one of Canada's top young volleyball players: "I hope making this team will spark offers from overseas to set me off in a pro career for the future."

Players chosen to the National Junior Team have moved into the dorms at the University of Winnipeg for the next month. They are preparing for the 2008 NORCECA Junior and Continental Championship June 28-July 6 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The top two squads will advance to the World Junior Championship in 2009.