By WAYNE SHIELS
Six area hockey players were identified as being among the best of the best at a recent Sask First event.
Top forwards include Warman U15AA Wildcats Camryn Aebig (Rosthern), Beau Anholt (Neuanlage) and Martensville U15AA Marauders Dawson Baht (Martensville), Weston Kostiuk (Martensville). Defence includes Warman Wildcats Walker Bergen (Neuanlage) and Logan Olsen (Warman).
The Male U15 Top 80 Sask First tournament took place at the Balgonie Stardome from February 14 to 16. Over the course of three days in Balgonie, the weekend featured tons of time on the ice practicing and competing. There was also a special WHL presentation for the room full of major junior hopefuls.
This highly anticipated event, organized by Hockey Saskatchewan in partnership with the Western Hockey League (WHL), brought together the province’s most promising 2010-born players for a weekend of intense competition and high-energy action.
Eighty skilled athletes from across the province were divided into four teams and put to the test in a round-robin format. This was the third evaluation phase in the Sask First program, with top players earning opportunities for further development and exposure. Scouts and representatives from the WHL, the Saskatchewan Male Under-18 AAA Hockey League, and Hockey Saskatchewan were in attendance, closely evaluating the action and identifying emerging talent.
The selected Top 34 players advance to summer and fall camps with the goal of making Team Saskatchewan and competing in the WHL Cup.