It's the first taste of World Junior A Challenge action for a couple of Portage Terriers tonight.

Defencemen Brett Orr and Dean Stewart made the Canada West squad earlier this week, and begin pre-tournament play versus Russia tonight in Trenton, Ontario.

The pair spent the last week in Leduc, Alberta at training camp before heading east.

After making the team, Orr calls it an honour, adding with the high calibre of players involved, it'll be a great experience.

While they're excited about the atmosphere surrounding the event, both players stress they're focused on one thing -- winning a gold medal.

The tournament proper starts on Sunday afternoon for Stewart, Orr, and the rest of Canada West, as they face the Czech Republic. They'll meet the U-S on Tuesday night.

The gold medal game's slated for Saturday afternoon.

You can check tournament results here.

Dean Stewart