Wyatt Stinton will soon be on his way to the Canada Winter Games.
The Channing native and Flin Flon Minor Hockey product was named to the boys’ U16 hockey team representing Manitoba at this winter’s Canada Winter Games Nov. 9. The team is made up of the top talents province-wide under age 16.
“We’re very proud of our team. We really like the speed and skill we have in our line-up and our goaltending is very strong so we’re really excited about this group heading into the Canada Games,” said Team Manitoba head coach Taras McEwen in Hockey Manitoba’s official team announcement.
Stinton has played the past two seasons in Winnipeg with the Rink Hockey Academy (RHA) prep program, the same program that produced fellow Flin Flon talent Justin Lies. Lies is the last Flin Flon player to represent Manitoba at the Games, having done so back in 2018.
In 12 games this year with RHA on the academy’s under-16 team, Stinton has nine goals and 15 points.
“It’s an honour to represent your province and this will truly be a unique experience for our players and staff so we can’t wait to get there and compete for a gold medal.”
Stinton is the only northern Manitoba-born and trained player on the team - most of the team comes from Winnipeg, along with three of Stinton’s RHA teammates, defenders Ayden Collins, Tate Dolinsky and Reece Gault.
Stinton was drafted by the Regina Pats in the fifth round of this year’s WHL bantam draft and stood out at training camp with the team this fall, potting four goals in one scrimmage against several now-current WHL players.
The former Norman Wolves forward has experience representing Manitoba - he did so in 2017 at the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament at West Edmonton Mall, leading Team Manitoba with five goals and 11 points in six games. Several of his teammates at that tournament, including Collins, have been named for the Canada Winter Games team.
The next Canada Winter Games will take place in Prince Edward Island from Feb. 18 - March 5, with hockey games taking place in several different rinks across the island.
