The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Roughly 120 hockey players overtook the Creighton Sportex and the Whitney Forum this past weekend for the Program of Excellence (POE). Players took to the ice with a variety of skill levels as well as intentions for the weekend. Some were on the ice to make the Development team Ð which featured players 12 years old who were looking to make a noncompetitive team and play hockey with a few others. Other players were trying out for the Directors Cup team (ages 13 and 14) and then there were some who were trying out for the POE team. There was a low turnout in the POE as nine boys and girls showed up dressed to impress. The camp offers a training clinic for the 15 year olds to learn and improve skills while they ultimately try to make it onto the Western team. Each year, players are selected from Manitoba and Saskatchewan to form the Western team. Things got started this past weekend. The players here are trying for their shot at the Manitoba side of the team. Those selected will move onto Winnipeg and join 80 other hopeful players. From there, 40 of those will head to Brandon before being cut down to 20. With 20 players from Manitoba, they will meet with 20 players from Saskatchewan to form one team. Although the numbers were low in some of the programs, Hockey Developer for the Norman Region John McNevin says things went well. "I would have liked to see more 15 year olds," he says, "but the other programs were decent." With only a handful of players showing up for the POE, McNevin says he knows a lot of players don't come out because of costs and the fact that only a couple players are chosen. Coming back next month, the program will hit the ice for another weekend from March 20-22.
