Hockey Manitoba announces initial Program of Excellence roster

The initial roster for Hockey Manitoba’s U16 Program of Excellence spring selection camp was announced March 20, with 12 players from the Eastman region named to the camp.

The spring selection camp will take place in Winnipeg at the Hockey for All Centre April 10-12. The Program of Excellence will once again be in Steinbach this May, as the province’s top-40 camp will be hosted at the Southeast Event Centre.

Brad Purdie, who is the director of operations and the U15 prep head coach at the Rink Hockey Academy will be heading up the U16 team this year. Two players from the region who suit up for Rink HA made the selection camp roster. They will be joined by 10 players from the Eastman Selects U15 team, which lost in the league finals 3-1 to Brandon this season.

This year’s final roster will be Team Manitoba at the 2027 Canada Winter Games, which will take place next year in Quebec City.

EASTMAN SELECTS PoE PLAYERS

Nixon Gaudet – F – Ile des Chenes

Owen Hirst – F – Lac du Bonnet

Reed Everett – F – Winnipeg

Ryder Olford – F- Ile des Chenes

Reed Sherry – F – St Malo

Bryson Calder – D – Carlowrie

Daxton Lopushniuk – D – Oakbank

Gabriel May – D – Mitchell

Braedan Gilbertson – D – Lorette West

Leonid Nekipelov – G – Lorette

RINK HOCKEY ACADEMY PoE PLAYERS

Brady Piec – D – Oakbank

Haize Brightnose – G – Ste Anne