By Darren Bayrack /
Many of the best 15-year-old Midget hockey players from Alberta and B.C. will take to the ice in Chestemere next month to compete for the Prospect Cup.
The annual Keystone Raiders Invitational Minor Midget AAA Tournament is set for Nov. 20 to 22 and will feature 12 teams for the second consecutive year.
In addition to the host club Raiders, the event will showcase teams from Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Lloydminster, St. Albert, Leduc, Sherwood Park and Kamloops.
The Keystone Raiders captured their home tournament last season and head coach Sean Finn knows his team will have to be on top of their game to repeat.
“You pretty much have to win everything, win all four games,” he explained.
The coach expects the tournament to expand as Midget leagues for 15-year-old players gain momentum in neighbouring provinces and states.
The Prospect Cup has grown from an eight-team event to 12 last year and plans are in the works to expand to 16 clubs.
“I think that will happen next year,” said Finn. “We have had to turn teams away each year. We are trying to expand, we have got our fingers out there into Ontario and the also
the U.S.
“We’re hoping that next year we can start to draw those teams in as well and create a bigger event.”
The Keystone Raiders play in the Southern Alberta Midget League that gives elite players a place to skate for one season after bantam.
“It’s a huge advantage for development, there is no doubt about that,” said Finn, a former tier two scout. “They are out of Bantam, some of them have their mind set on the WHL, some of them don’t. They get a year to develop amongst their own age group, their own size. It is very difficult for 15-year-olds to crack the rosters of Midget AAA.”
The Keystone Raiders, who finished below .500 last season, are off to a good start this year with a 2-0-1 record.
“We have a strong team this year,” Finn promises. |
