Prince George, B.C. – BC Hockey has awarded the U16 Cup Tournament to Prince George, scheduled for April 15 – 18, 2010. The top 160 players aged 15 years old will be selected from try out camps that happen all over the Province in mid-March. These players are placed onto 8 teams, and in April will compete for the coveted U16 Cup at the CN Centre in Prince George. CN Centre Manager Andy Beesley is also chairing the U16 Cup committee, and says “This is fantastic news for Prince George and our entire region – including the hockey community as well as local businesses”. “There will be dozens of scouts attending, watching these kids closely for the upcoming draft, plus hundreds of family members from all over the Province, as well as all of the coaches, trainers and support staff”. “I hope that young hockey players will come out to watch this tournament and be inspired and dream about their own hockey futures”.

 

The CN Centre as well as all 3 Kin rinks will be transformed into a dormitory, banquet hall, practice ice and tournament ice as all kids, coaches and support staff live right in the facilities for the entire tournament. The U16 high performance program is designed to instruct and prepare players for future opportunities, including the U17 cup, Team Pacific, and ultimately the National Junior Hockey Program. Some of the more talented players in the 2010 U16 Cup will also be selected for the 2011 Canada Winter Games Team, being held in Halifax. Many local boys have gone through this program, including CHL and WHL Rookie of the Year Brett Connolly, currently playing for the Prince George Cougars. 

 

“I am very excited that BC Hockey has chosen Prince George to host the 2010 U16 BC Cup tournament”, says Mayor Dan Rogers.  “Prince George has an great reputation for hosting the very best events, and we look forward to showing off our facilities, our entire City, but most importantly our first class volunteers who will once again step up to the plate and show the entire province the excellence we have to offer.  I hope everyone will come out in April and support these young athletes, considered to be the best 15 year old hockey players in the Province”. 

 

Beesley adds “Our arenas staff and our volunteers are ready willing and able to show BC Hockey and the hockey world that we are among the best in the Province if not the Country at hosting events”. “Our goal is to be one of the first choices in BC for awarding this and even bigger and better tournaments in the very near future”.