By Western Hockey League

CALGARY, Alta. – The 2013 Western Canada Under-16 Challenge Cup is approaching as the top 1998-born players from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. prepare to battle for Western Canadian supremacy.

The Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup will be held in Calgary, AB, at Father David Bauer arena from October 31^st through November 3^rd.  It’s the fourth edition of the event, which was previously held in Blackfalds, AB, in 2009, In Moose Jaw, SK, in 2011, and in Calgary, AB, in 2012.

WHL.ca will take a look at each of the four entries in the tournament over the weeks leading up to the event.

Here’s a look at Team Saskatchewan

TEAM SASKATCHEWAN

Team Saskatchewan will be looking to improve upon its third-place finish from last year’s tournament.  The 20-man roster for the 2013 edition of Team Saskatchewan featured 18 players selected in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, including first-rounders Kaden Elder (Seattle Thunderbirds) and Jeffrey Faith (Spokane Chiefs).

Though Team Saskatchewan boasts plenty of individual talent, head coach Del Pedrick says success will need to come through a solid team effort, with everyone contributing what they can.

“We’re happy with our group,” said Pedrick.  “I think we are going to have to rely on a number of players up front.  We’re looking at guys like Elder and (Vancouver prospect) Gage Ramsay to help lead us, and we’re looking for a guy like Drew Warkentine to help out with that too.

“We are going to have to get solid production out of all our guys up front…we’ll look to have three lines that can generate offense, and we’ll try and roll out that fourth line to do some checking and keep their game simple,” he said.

A defence corps featuring Spokane Chiefs’ first-round pick Jeffrey Faith and Kootenay Ice prospect Cale Fleury, the younger brother of Red Deer’s Haydn Fleury, looks to be a solid group that can handle many of the best offensive players in western Canada.

In a tournament such as the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup, goaltending will surely be a major factor in determining which team comes away with a Gold medal.  For Saskatchewan, the goaltending tandem of Colby Entz, a listed player by the Red Deer Rebels, and Kootenay Ice draft pick Declan Hobbs looks to be as solid as that of any team.

“We know we are going to need good goaltending for this tournament,” said Pedrick.  “We feel we are very competitive with half the field in this tournament, but we know we are going to have to really step it up against a couple of the teams, so that’s where our goaltending can play a big role.

“We may not have the most depth, in terms of goal-scoring, so that’s where we will need our goaltenders to make two or three big saves and help us win those close 3-2 and 4-3 games,” he added.

While many eyes will be on a few elite players from other provinces, Pedrick says he expects some of his players to make the most of the opportunity and turn a few heads at this year’s tournament.

“A number of our guys have the opportunity,” he said.  “We have guys that are anxious to step their game up and make a statement…guys like Jordan Borstmayer (Kelowna Rockets) and Gage Ramsay will definitely be looking to put on good performances, and we also look to a guy like Spokane Chiefs’ draft pick Taylor Ross to make the most of his opportunity and put up some good offense during this tournament.”

TEAM SASKATCHEWAN NOTES:  The Saskatchewan roster consists of two goaltenders, six defencemen and 12 forwards…Team Saskatchewan features two players chosen in the first round of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, one chosen in the second round, and five players selected in the third round…Six players from Team Saskatchewan are from Saskatoon, with four of them playing for the Saskatoon Contacts…Seven players on Team Saskatchewan play for either the Notre Dame Argos or Hounds…Family connections: Defenceman Jeffrey Faith is the younger brother of Kootenay Ice defenceman Tanner Faith, Drew Warkentine is the younger brother of Moose Jaw Warriors forward Miles Warkentine, forward Garrett Pilon is the cousin of Lethbridge Hurricanes’ defenceman Ryan Pilon…Saskatchewan assistant coach Trevor Weisgerber is a former assistant coach with the Moose Jaw Warriors.