麻豆社区

The Bantam A Mustangs feel-good season continued last weekend, when three of the team's top players were selected to attend the U-16 B.C. Cup in Salmon Arm next week.

Levi Johnson, Nick Dobush and Josh Tetlichi were selected to move on from a regional camp held in Vanderhoof, and will now battle against 160 other top players from across the province hoping to make Team B.C.

Two teams will be selected from the 160 players in Salmon Arm to attend a U-16 provincial camp in Nanaimo this July, and from there the province's top 20 players will form the team that will compete in the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup this fall. The tournament is put on by the Western Hockey League.

For now, Johnson, Dobush and Tetlichi are happy to participate in the jamboree-style B.C. Cup.

The standouts were three of eight Mustangs who attended the regional camp in Vanderhoof from April 5 to 7. Other players included Jack Blisner, Caleb Marsh, Chance Goodman, Ben McClelland and Sam Logan.

The camp included copious amounts of drills, scrimmages and games, and just 30 players moved on to the U-16 B.C. Cup.

In previous years, Yukon players such as Prince George Cougars rookie Brett Roulston have taken this route as a stepping stone to major junior hockey.

Mustangs coach Barry Blisner said the high performance camp was an eye-opener to his athletes, who enjoyed a season to remember this year, winning the rec C division playoff championship on top of three tournament gold medals.

"It was a really good year,鈥� he said. "I think this is one of the better teams to come out in a while. Our core group of players were all big, skilled guys, and it makes a huge difference. I think that's probably where our real advantage was this year.

"Basically, they saw they were able to compete with kids all the way from Tier 1 to Tier 4,鈥� he said of the camp.

"Knowing that we had a fairly strong team this year, I thought there was a good chance some of them might make it.鈥�

Players get noticed through the process, said Blisner, which is a rare opportunity for players from the North.

"I think for them, it shows that they can compete at the Tier 1 or AAA level,鈥� Blisner added. "I think that's what's opened their eyes.鈥�

Going up against elite players is a difficult task at the best of times, said Dobush, a 15-year-old left-winger and centre who attends F.H. Collins Secondary School.

"It was really competitive, but I played hard,鈥� he said of the regional camp. "It's a once in a lifetime thing. This means a lot individually, so you can set goals and try to accomplish them. I think I can do good if I try my hardest.鈥�

"It was very fast-paced, intense hockey,鈥� added Johnson, 14.

The Grade 9 student at Porter Creek Secondary School felt he had a chance to move on in the selection process, but knew he couldn't allow himself to become overconfident.

"It's crazy,鈥� he said, of the fact he and his two teammates are moving on to attend the B.C. Cup in Salmon Arm. "We're going to have to work hard before we go, but I think if we put our minds to it, we can go (on again).鈥�

Johnson enjoyed the strongest season of his young career, leading his team in playoff scoring with 19 points and finishing second to Dobush (36 points) in team scoring during the regular season with 35 points in 28 games. The first-line right-winger was also a force in each of the tournaments played Outside the territory.

Tetlichi admitted the camp was tough on him, including a five-hour block of ice time on Saturday.

"I was really sore Sunday morning,鈥� he chuckled. "I was just dead. They were working me so hard.鈥�

The 14-year-old Porter Creek student said he was surprised to hear he had been selected to attend the next round of the selection camp. He has only played goalie for four years, finishing this season with a 6-4-4 record while splitting duties with Devon Troke.

"The goalies there were really impressive,鈥� he said.

B.C.'s male U-16 hockey program is designed to instruct and prepare young players for future

opportunities in the high performance program.