November 09, 2011
Posted in Alberta Edition, Minor
By Andrew Chong, editor /
The Team Alberta Male program boasts an impressive alumnus – Matt Dumba, Jordan Eberle, Jay Bouwmeester, Devan Dubnyk, Devin Setoguchi, Tyler Myers – and the next wave is on the way.
At the recent Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup in Moose Jaw, Sask., Team Alberta stole the show with a perfect 4-0 record and a 10-4 win over Team Manitoba in the gold medal final.
The event showcases elite U16 players and is run in partnership by the four western provincial hockey branches and the WHL.
Calgary’s Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors first-rounder) led the tournament in scoring with five goals and nine points in four games, including four assists in the final, and was named to the Tournament All-Star team. Team Alberta’s Tanner MacMaster (Spokane Chiefs first-rounder), John Quenneville (Brandon Wheat Kings third-rounder) and Conner Bleackley (Red Deer Rebels first-rounder) also figured into the Top 10 in tournament scoring.
Reid Duke (Lethbridge Hurricanes first-rounder) scored the gold-medal-game-winner and added an assist. And Blake Penner added two goals and an assist in the championship game.
Two other Alberta-born players made the Tournament’s First All-Star team: Jordan Papirny (Brandon Wheat Kings first-rounder) was the tournament’s best goaltender and Brycen Martin (Swift Current Broncos first-rounder) was named as a defenceman.
This is the second gold medal for Team Alberta, after winning the inaugural event in 2009. Alberta is now two-for-two in winning the U16 Challenge Cup, as the event does not run during Canada Winter Games years (every two years, including 2010).
In the bronze medal game, Jake Virtanen (No. 1 overall pick by the Calgary Hitmen) scored the game-winner to lead Team British Columbia over Team Saskatchewan, 5-4.
ALBERTA CONTINGENT: BY THE NUMBERS
The 20-man Team Alberta roster featured 10 WHL first-round picks, seven Calgary-born players, six Edmonton-born players, four Lethbridge Hurricanes picks, four members of the South Side Athletic Club, three Calgary Buffaloes, and one second-overall WHL Draft pick (Brycen Martin, Spokane Chiefs).
In terms of draft picks from Alberta WHL teams, there were eight Lethbridge Hurricanes, four Edmonton Oil Kings, four Medicine Hat Tigers, three Medicine Hat Tigers (plus one listed player), and three Calgary Hitmen.
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