Making the cut

Twelve members of the 2016-17 P.A. Northern Bears and one incoming Bear are competing for a spot on the U16 and U18 provincial teams this week at SaskFirst camp in Wilcox, Sask. (File photo)

P.A. Northern Bears players fight for a spot on the provincial roster at SaskFirst camps

Once again the Prince Albert Northern Bears are well represented at provincial development camps.

Eleven current Bears, one recently departed Bear and a future Bear are among the top 42 players in the province who have qualified for Saskatchewan Hockey Association SaskFirst U16 and U18 camps in Wilcox, Sask. this week.

“When you have as many players as we do there it just speaks volumes for the kinds of girls we’re bringing into our program and just shows that we do have a lot of talent that we bring in to P.A. to play in this league,” Bears president Robin Wildey said.

“These girls look like they’re in shape and ready to go. They skate well. No summer rust on them. These girls are hungry again and that bodes well for SaskFirst and bodes well for us.”

Forwards Brooklyn Anderson and Jasper Desmarais made the U16 camp along with Rhea Peterson, who played for her hometown midget ‘A’ Debden Jets last year and will be joining the Bears in the fall.

“She’s been around our radar for a couple years,” Wildey said of Peterson.

“She’s not shy about scoring points. She can put the puck in the net. She can dish out the puck when she needs to. She’s just an all around offensive player for us. We’re excited to have a player like that on board with us coming up for next year.”

The U16 participants are competing to make the 20-player Team Saskatchewan team that will compete in a tournament in Swift Current in September.

On the U18 side, goalie Ryan Fontaine; defencemen Tobi Fontaine, Hannah Koroll and Jordan Ashe; and forwards Camryn Amundson, Kate Ball, Jadyn Kushniruk, Miranda Heidt and Abby Soyko made the cut. Story Navrot, who is leaving the Bears after two seasons with the team, also made the SaskFirst roster.

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