2015 U16 CHALLENGE CUP: TEAM BC PREVIEW
Calgary, AB – The 2015 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup is set to begin on Wednesday, October 28th at Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary, Alberta. The Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup will feature the highest-rated players in the Under-16 category representing the four Western Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The majority of the players participating in the event were selected in the WHL Bantam Draft in May of 2015. Many of these top young prospects will play major roles on WHL Clubs in the seasons ahead.
Team BC heads into the fifth edition of the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup seeking its second gold medal win after previously claiming a gold medal in 2012. BC has come away with a medal in every edition of the U16 Challenge Cup having claimed a silver medal in 2013 to go along with bronze medal wins in 2011 and in 2009.
Team BC boasts five players who were first-round picks in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. Tyler Popowich, who was selected third overall by the Vancouver Giants, will provide a lot of offense for a BC squad looking for continued success at the tournament. The 15 year-old native of Surrey, BC recorded eight goals and 16 points in 15 games for the Okanagan Hockey Academy Bantam Prep squad in 2014-15 and is looking to lead BC to a championship.
“I was obviously really excited,” said Popowich when he learned that he would represent Team BC. “It is a huge honour and we are hoping to get a win. A lot of the guys on my team I know from playing minor hockey and I’m super excited.”
Popowich further mentioned that he believes this tournament will have tough opposition. “It’s going to be tough. The other three teams all have good players so we’re going to have to battle through some adversity. If we work hard and stick together as a team, we’ll get the wins.”
Team BC heads into the U16 Challenge Cup seeking its fifth straight medal but Head Coach Leland Mack sees this competition to be very close.
“I don’t want to disincline any province but I believe three, if not, all four teams are well capable of winning,” said Mack. “It’s going to be really tight because it’s essentially a series of one game competitions. Anything can happen. We’re doing our best to prepare our players but not have them to over prepared or overwhelmed. We still want them to go and just play their game.”
Mack also mentioned that he sees his team possessing a lot of nerves but also a lot of excitement heading into the first game.
“The first game will likely be a little bit hectic for us but I expect a lot of energy. I think I just got to let my players go and we’ll figure out the rest from there.”
Other Team BC players that fans should keep an eye on are North Vancouver natives Luka Burzan, Jackson Leppard and Ethan Cap. Burzan was selected sixth overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors, Leppard was taken eighth overall by the Prince George Cougars and Cap was selected 11th overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. Forward Ryan Chyzowski rounds out the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft first-round selections on Team BC as he was selected 18th overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers.
TEAM BC ROSTER
|
Position |
Number |
Player Name |
Hometown |
|
G |
1 |
Donovan Buskey |
North Vancouver, BC |
|
G |
35 |
Jordan Naylor |
Aldergrove, BC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
2 |
Seth Bafaro |
Kamloops, BC |
|
D |
3 |
Ethan Cap |
North Vancouver, BC |
|
D |
4 |
Austin Chorney |
Abbotsford, BC |
|
D |
5 |
Kabir Gill |
White Rock, BC |
|
D |
6 |
Matt Leduc |
Richmond, BC |
|
D |
7 |
Luke Zazula |
Langley, BC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
F |
8 |
Coleton Bilodeau |
Coldstream, BC |
|
F |
9 |
Brendan Budy |
Langley, BC |
|
F |
10 |
Luka Burzan |
Surrey, BC |
|
F |
11 |
Ryan Chyzowski |
Kamloops, BC |
|
F |
12 |
Keltie Jeri-Leon |
West Kelowna, BC |
|
F |
14 |
Liam Kindree |
North Vancouver, BC |
|
F |
15 |
Riley Kreme |
Dawson Creek, BC |
|
F |
16 |
Jackson Leppard |
North Vancouver, BC |
|
F |
17 |
Matt Mosher |
White Rock, BC |
|
F |
18 |
Tyler Popowich |
Surrey, BC |
|
F |
19 |
Jackson Shepard |
West Vancouver, BC |
|
F |
20 |
Eli Zummack |
Kelowna, BC |
TEAM BC ROUND-ROBIN SCHEDULE:
*all games will take place at Markin MacPhail Centre (Calgary, Alberta)
|
Date |
Visitor |
|
Home |
Time |
|
Wednesday, October 28 |
British Columbia |
@ |
Alberta |
7:00p.m. |
|
Thursday, October 29 |
British Columbia |
@ |
Manitoba |
7:00p.m. |
|
Friday, October 30 |
Saskatchewan |
@ |
British Columbia |
3:00p.m. |
Ticket Information:
|
Tournament Pass |
Day Pass |
|
Adult $40 |
Adult $15 |
|
Student & Senior $35 |
Student & Senior $10 |
|
Early-Bird (until October 25th) $30 |
|
|
Youth (14 & under) FREE with minor hockey jersey or Halloween costume |
|
CLICK HERE for Early-Bird Tickets.
On-site ticket sales will begin one (1) hour prior to the start of the first game, each day of the tournament.
For more information on the 2015 Western Canada Under-16 Challenge Cup, CLICK HERE
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