U15 Eastman Selects looking strong heading into playoffs, WHL draft

It looks like the U15 AAA Eastman Selects could have another solid showing at the Western Hockey League draft this season.

Last year saw a pair of first round picks from the U15 team in Graeme Pickering and Asher Gingras and this year Crosby Mateychuk could be in line to join them.

The U15 Selects have been a point-generating machine this season. They lead the Winnipeg AAA Hockey League’s East Division, posting an incredible 230 goals for and plus-172 goal difference.

Gerald Tetrault is the coach for the U15 Selects team.

“(They’re) super good hockey players, but on top of that they’re super great kids and great families,” Tetrault said after a 11-2 victory over the Central Plains Capitals in Landmark Feb. 9.

“We’ve had no issues at all with the players and the parents have been amazing. It’s been an awesome year, low stress and lots of wins. Kids are getting lots of opportunities to show their skills.”

Tetrault guessed teams should be interested in all their eligible defensemen, with some forwards getting looks as well. He even chatted with two scouts from the Vancouver Giants following the game.

“It’ll be interesting to see where it all shakes loose,” Tetrault said.

Tetrault acknowledged it’s a challenge to get young teenagers to stay intense on the ice when there are so many blowout victories.

“I remember ‘point night,’ when I played,” he said with a chuckle.

“You knew which nights were going to be point night and you cheated offense and your habits may not have been as good, and my coach was all over us back then and nothing’s really changed.”

The brother of NHL defenseman Denton Mateychuk, Crosby is having an outstanding season. He’s posted 30 goals and 36 assists as a defender in just 28 games with the team, seeing action in with five games for the U18 and U17 Selects as well. Crosby notched a hat trick against Central Plains.

Tetrault said the Selects have an outstanding defense-core overall, with their goal in each game to hold their opponents under five shots per period.

“We work, and we continue to battle and hopefully we’ll get the results we want at the end of the year,” he said.

This draft class will be the first to be selected under the new American college rules. Previously 15-year-olds would face a tough decision, to sign for a WHL team or lose their college eligibility. With the NCAA now allowing major junior players into their ranks, the decision should become less stressful for players and their families.

“It opens up for all of the best players to play in the WHL,” Tetrault said, noting players had restricted themselves from playing in the WHL because they wanted to keep the college path open.

“It’s great for those kids to be able to take the next step and play against the best players in the WHL and still have the opportunity to go to the NCAA.”

The U15 Selects finish their regular season Feb. 23.