By Hockey Saskatchewan

BALGONIE, Sask. – Hockey Saskatchewan, in partnership with the Western Hockey League (WHL), are teaming up to host the highly anticipated Sask First Male Under-15 Top 80 Tournament, taking place from February 17 to 19, 2023, in Balgonie, Sask.

The annual tournament returns to Balgonie Arena bringing a contingent of young hockey players from across the province to provide them with a platform to showcase their skills and compete against the best of the best.

Evaluations during the Sask First Male Under-15 Top 160 Tournament in December 2022 were used to narrow down a player pool of 160 for this upcoming tournament.

The top 80 players have been divided into four teams and will compete in a round-robin competition under the direction of skilled coaches. Following practices, games start in the afternoon on Friday, February 17, 2023, and continue throughout the weekend before culminating with the finals held on Sunday morning.

The tournament marks the third installment in the selection phase for next season's Team Saskatchewan. At the conclusion of the Top 80 Tournament, the top 25-32 players will be chosen to attend Summer and Fall camps before the final 20 athletes are selected to represent their province at the 2023 WHL Cup.

The Sask First program is not only a great opportunity for players to compete and improve their skills, but it is also an opportunity for them to be seen by scouts from a variety of leagues, including the WHL. Representatives from all 22 WHL clubs will be in attendance, scouting players for the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

With Hockey Saskatchewan and the WHL working together to host this tournament, players are given an opportunity to take their careers to the next level, and potentially be selected to play at the highest levels of competitive hockey.

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For more information on Hockey Saskatchewan and the Sask First program, please visit www.hockeysask.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

ABOUT SASK FIRST

The Sask First Program was introduced by Hockey Saskatchewan in 1988 and since that time the program has brought great pride and accomplishment within our province. The Sask First Program was designed to provide a better understanding of the game as well as to promote the development of quality players, coaches, trainers, and officials. The participants are enriched as individuals and can achieve self-satisfaction and enjoyment as part of the hockey community.

The Sask First Program is a gateway to Hockey Canada’s High-Performance Program which includes their National Teams such as the World Juniors. There is a long list of notable players who have gone through the Sask First Program which includes NHL players Chandler Stephenson, Brayden Schenn, and Damon Severson, just to name a few. Up and coming players such as Nolan Allan, Kevin Korchinski, and Connor Zary also went through the Sask First Program.

About HOCKEY SASKATCHEWAN

Hockey Saskatchewan was established in 1912 and is the governing body for organized hockey in the Province of Saskatchewan. With a mission to Lead, Develop and Promote Positive Hockey Experiences, Hockey Saskatchewan encourages competition at all levels – from recreational to high performance. Hockey Saskatchewan has grown through the years and is Saskatchewan’s largest sports organization with over 43,000 members comprised of players, coaches, and officials. For more information, please visit www.hockeysask.ca or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.