By meadowlakeNOW

Team MLTC tryouts kick off with hockey

Jan 2, 2018 | 6:00 PM

Over 100 young Indigenous hockey players from across the region congregated at the Flying Dust arena today for the first day of tryouts for Team Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC), which will compete at the Tony Cote First Nations Winter Games.

Today, athletes hit the ice to vie for a spot on the rosters for the three teams, the boys’ bantam team, girls’ blended bantam/midget team, and the midget boys’ team.

Terrance Sylvestre, MLTC Youth development coordinator said the overall turnout was positive. A total of 36 tried out for the bantam team, 27 for the female team, with the highest showing up for the midget boys’ team with a total of 45 players skating.

“We probably had about 110 overall,” he said. “We have all nine communities represented.”

The teams will eventually whittle down to 15 to 17 team members. During the first round, Sylvestre said 20 players will be chosen, with the rosters finalized in mid-to-late February.

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Originally these tryouts were scheduled for late last week, but with the frigid temperatures Sylvestre decided to postpone them for the safety of those travelling from afar. 

Denis Kantel from Makwa Sahgaiehcan near Loon Lake had represented Team MLTC in the past, and skated for the midget team. He said the process was challenging but feels it went well. He hopes to make the team a second time.

“We had a hard skate today,” Kantel said. “We had some really good drills. It was really fun. I enjoyed skating with everyone; there’s some smart players out there. I hope to make it again, because it feels really good to represent the community. I’ve been skating since I was three so it’s a big part of my life.”

Tryouts for other sports including basketball, badminton, curling, volleyball, and broomball will continue throughout the month, and the games will take place in Saskatoon April 1-6.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath