6 Park players pegged for Hockey Alberta squads
A sextet of Sherwood skaters has been getting added exposure courtesy of Hockey Alberta. 2 of those begin play today as goaltender Elise Hugens and forward Taze Thompson managed to crack the elite Alberta roster for the 2019 National Women’s Under 18 Championships in Morden and Winkler, Manitoba. 68 players were originally invited to the U-18 summer camp in Red Deer in July, where a shortlist roster was established for fall camp in Edmonton in September where the group was whittled down to the final 20 for nationals.
Also with the team for the tournament, which runs from Nov. 5 to 9, is Sherwood Park Dayna Janzen, serving as an assistant coach. The tournament is considered the 1st step on the road to Canada’s national women’s team. Four other Park players recently had their time with Team Alberta come to an end.
Park products Keaton Dowhaniuk (defence), Tanner Scott (forward), Jordan Gustafson (forward) and Camrose native Graydon Gotaas — who plays for the Sherwood Park Midget AAA Kings — all played for Alberta’s U-16 squad at the recently-concluded 2019 WHL Cup in Calgary.
Eighty players were initially invited to Red Deer for the summer camp, where a shortlist roster was established and monitored in league play during the 1st months of the 2019-20 season prior to the official naming of the final roster.
Gustafson was named Team Alberta’s captain for the tournament, with Gotaas serving as an assistant. Unfortunately, Alberta lost out 5-4 in overtime in the bronze medal game to Team B.C. The 2019 WHL Cup featured the highest-rated players in the under-16 age category from the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The four-team round robin tournament is considered the 1st step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence for players.
Players participation in the event were selected in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft or since been listed by WHL Clubs. Dowhaniuk was taken 3rd overall by Prince George with Gustafson also going in the 1st round when he was selected eighth by Seattle. Gotaas was chosen in the second round (44th overall) by Prince Albert, while Scott was taken in the third by Victoria.
