2012 U17S WILL HAVE DISTINCT SJHL FLAVOUR

Press Release

The Saskatchewan Hockey Association announced Wednesday May 4, 2011 the Saskatchewan Head Coach and Assistant Coach for Team West 2012 that will compete in the 2012 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg Manitoba December 29, 2011 to January 5, 2012.

SHA announces the coaching staff for Team West 2012. Jamie Fiesel (Melville),Team West Head Coach and Bob Beatty (Watrous), Team West Assistant Coach will join Don MacGillivary (Winnipeg), GM/Head Coach Winnipeg Blues, MJHL as Team West Assistant Coach and Ray Neufeld (Winnipeg), Assistant Coach Winnipeg Blues, MJHL as Team West Video/Assistant Coach.

Jamie Fiesel brings with him many years as player/coach in Germany and is currently is the Head Coach/General Manager of the Melville Millionaires of the SJHL. He participated in the World U17 Challenge as Video Coach in 2009 (Port Alberni) and Assistant Coach in 2010 (Timmins).

Bob Beatty brings with him many years of coaching and playing and currently is the Head Coach/General Manager of the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the SJHL. He participated in the World U17 Challenge as Assistant Coach as Assistant Coach in 2011 (Winnipeg)

Player selection is already underway for Team West 2012. The top 40 195 and top 40 1996 born players from the Sask First tournaments in 2010 and 2011 will attend the Sask First Summer Camp July 18-22, 2011 in Wilcox Saskatchewan where they will be evaluated and placed on an evaluation roster to be monitored during the first months of the ’11/12 season. Hockey Manitoba will hold their evaluation camp May 26-29, 2011 in Winnipeg MB. From these evaluation camps eleven Saskatchewan players will join eleven players from Manitoba to compete as Team West at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge from December 29th, 2011 to January 5, 2012 in Winnipeg Manitoba.

The World Under 17 Tournament features the top 16-year-old players from around the world, and both Manitoba and Saskatchewan are hopeful that the 2012 Team West lineup will bring back the Gold.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)