By Western Hockey League

CALGARY, Alta. – The 2015 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup is set to begin on Wednesday, October 28^th at Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary, Alberta.  The Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup will feature the highest-rated players in the Under-16 category representing the four Western Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 

The majority of the players participating in the event were selected in the WHL Bantam Draft in May of 2015. Many of these top young prospects will play major roles on WHL Clubs in the seasons ahead.

Team Saskatchewan heads into the fifth edition of the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup seeking its first gold medal win. Saskatchewan finished in third place to win the bronze medal in 2012 and that remains as the team’s lone medal to date. 

Team Saskatchewan boasts three players who were first-round picks in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. Carson Focht, who was selected seventh overall by the Tri-City Americans, will provide a lot of offensive depth for a Saskatchewan team looking to take the next steps. The 15 year-old native of Regina, SK recorded 39 goals and 70 points for the Notre Dame Hounds Midget AAA team during the 2014-15 season and is looking to bring that power for Saskatchewan at the U16 Challenge Cup. 

“I was pretty excited and it’s always been a dream of mine to represent my province,” Focht said of getting the phone call indicating he made the team. “I know all the guys on the team and I’ve played hockey with most of them all my life. It’s going to be a great experience. Normally I play against these guys, but to play with them is really exciting!” 

Focht went on to mention that he expects every team to be good in this tournament.

“All of the other teams are going to be good so this will be a great challenge. You can’t predict what’s going to happen but it will be a lot of fun. Our team has a lot of great players and I believe we have the team to do it.” 

Team Saskatchewan heads into the U16 Challenge Cup with expectations of coming away with a medal and Head Coach Brad Herauf is looking to guide this group to a positive outcome. 

“It’s a pretty good year for talent,” said Herauf. “The 2015 WHL Bantam Draft was a strong one and you look at BC, Alberta and Manitoba, they all have deep rosters. It will be a very exciting challenge for us and we’re looking to put our best foot forward. We’ve had two camps to help prepare the players. One in July and one in September in which we played a couple exhibition games against Midget Triple AAA teams in Saskatchewan. When we get together, we go over lots of video and pre-scouting and implement systems to our style of play.”

Herauf also mentioned that he expects to see a lot of energy from his players right from the start.

“I expect the first period to have a lot of energy and a lot of nerves at the same time. The biggest thing for us is to make sure that we’re executing so we can ride that wave and keep it going.”

Other Team Saskatchewan players that fans should keep an eye on include Estevan, SK native Cole Fonstad and Yorkton, SK native Carson Miller. Both players were selected by the Prince Albert Raiders with the fifth and 21^st overall picks respectively at the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft.

TEAM SASKATCHEWAN ROSTER

TEAM SASKATCHEWAN ROUND-ROBIN SCHEDULE:
*all games will take place at Markin MacPhail Centre (Calgary, Alberta)

Ticket Information:

CLICK HERE for Early-Bird Tickets. 

On-site ticket sales will begin one (1) hour prior to the start of the first game, each day of the tournament.

For more information on the 2015 Western Canada Under-16 Challenge Cup, CLICK HERE.