Prairie leagues partner for Team Canada camp
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For the second year in a row, the Saskatchewan and Manitoba Junior Hockey Leagues are partnering up to hold an evaluation camp for the World Junior A challenge.
Martensville, Sask. will play host to the Western All-Star Challenge, as 40 top prospects will get a chance to impress Team Canada West staff and scouts from across hockey.
The Manitoba and Saskatchewan Leagues have grown closer since the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting a joint showcase event every year in Winnipeg. This fall camp, hosted in Martensville, Sask., emphasizes 19U prospects.
“The MJHL is excited to continue to grow our partnership with the SJHL for the benefit of all involved, especially the players,” MJHL commissioner Kevin Saurette said in a news release.
“This event will give elite athletes from each league an incredible opportunity to showcase their skills and abilities in a high-performance environment in front of scouts from Team Canada West along with other elite levels of hockey including the NHL.”
The World Junior A Challenge will be in Trois-Riveres, Que. this year, beginning Dec. 7.
“Our goal is to both showcase our league’s future stars, and to return to the podium on the world stage,” SJHL commissioner Kyle McIntyre said in a SJHL news release.
Team Canada West, featuring Lorette defenseman Avery Laliberte, who played for Niverville and Oakbank defenseman Reece Gault, who played for Steinbach, won bronze last year.
Steinbach Pistons forward Jackson Kostiuk was also named to the roster.
Laliberte is with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League, seeing action in both of the team’s first games. Gault is with the Victoria Grizzlies of the B.C. Hockey League, nabbing an assist in one of his first games. Both d-men are committed to Northern Michigan University in the NCAA.
Kostiuk left Steinbach mid-way through last year’s MJHL season to play for the Prince Albert Raiders in the Western Hockey League, where he remains.
For more MJHL coverage including game recaps, standings and statistics, be sure to pick up a print edition of The Carillon every week.