The West Kootenay U15 Wildcats are excited to be hosting the U15 Female BC Provincial Hockey Championship in Castlegar March 21-24.
The top nine teams from B.C. and the Yukon will compete in the annual tournament with teams coming from the Okanagan, Northern B.C. East and West, Surrey, Tri-Cities and Vancouver Island.
The Wildcats host team is a selection of the best U15 female players from Castlegar, Nelson, Trail, Rossland, Beaver Valley and Christina Lake.
“It’s not too often our area gets to host female provincials,” said manager and host committee chair for the provincials, Gabby Kravski. “It’s very exciting.”
The Wildcats will have a strong contingent of returning players that include Mya Morissette, Makayla Kravski, Bailey Jones, Hailey Hutt, Rebecca Hough, Ava Morrison, Erika Miller, Briana Reimer, and goalie Kezia Zamec.
The Wildcats are led by former Beaver Valley Nitehawks goalie and goalie coach Mike Morissette, and assistant coaches Rick Miller, Nathan Ehman, Aaron Shrieves and Jimmy Lennox.
The Wildcats have played competitive hockey all season, and most recently hosted a tournament Feb. 16-18, highlighting some of the best teams in B.C.
The Wildcats lost a close 2-1 semifinal game to the Kelowna Rockets U15 A team, who went on to beat Williams Lake in the final.
The U15 Wildcats will be training in preparation for the provincial championship, and would like to duplicate the success of the U18 West Kootenay Wildcats gold medal victory in the 2023 provincials.
“We would appreciate people coming out and cheering the girls on,” said Kravski. “It would be great if we could fill the stands with fans!”
The Wildcats first game goes on Thursday, March 21 at 10:45 a.m. versus the North East B.C. Predators, and later that evening at 7:30 p.m. against Wiliams Lake.
For more information, you can reach Kravski at femalemanagercmha@gmail.com.
The U18 West Kootenay Wildcats will also be attending the provincial championship in North Okanagan March 21-24, looking to repeat its gold medal victory from last season.
Greater Trail Minor hockey will also see its U13 Smoke Eaters compete in Aldergrove from March 17-22, and the U18 Tier 2 Smoke Eaters play in provincials in Langley March 17-21.