The best junior A hockey players in Saskatchewan converged on Humboldt on Monday for the World Junior A Challenge identification camp for Team West.Humboldt Broncos head coach Dean Brockman, who has also been named head coach of Team Canada West, has begun the process of building his squad that will represent the Canadian West at the Challenge in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in November. Brockman will be joined by Jason Mckee of the AJHL's Spruce Grove Saints and Ryan Smith of the MJHL's Selkirk Steelers at the annual tournament in November that showcases the top junior players in the country to hundreds of NCAA, CIS, WHL and NHL scouts. Team West won the tournament in 2011 with just one Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) player on their roster - Riley Keiser of the Humboldt Broncos. Brockman was also at the tournament, acting as assistant coach for Team Canada West. Keiser ended up joining the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League following the tournament and is an integral part of the Giants' returning core this season. For the camp in Humboldt October 1-2, all 12 member clubs of the SJHL teamed up to promote the league and prove that some of the best talent in the country can be found in Saskatchewan.The best 1993, 1994 and 1995-born players in the SJHL attended the camp and were split into two squads. Both teams practised at the Elgar Petersen Arena on Monday morning before facing off Monday night in an evaluation game before repeating the process on Tuesday. Melfort Mustangs head coach Gavin Holcomb and Yorkton Terriers coach Trent Cassan will lead one squad while Mike Regan of the Flin Flon Bombers and Keith Cassidy of the Estevan Bruins man the other bench. The remaining coaches from around the league were involved in the evaluation process throughout the two-day event. A total of 151 WJAC Alumni have gone on to hear their names called at the NHL draft including Kyle Turris (Phoenix 2007) and Nail Yakupov (Edmonton 2012).Players selected to attend the camp include: Humboldt: Cody Pettapiece (D) 1994; Ryan Aubertin (F) 1994; Dylan Fluter (F) 1994; Cody Pongracz (D) 1993. Battlefords: Casey Parker (G) 1995; Spencer Gosselin (D) 1994; Josh Betinol (F) 1994. Estevan: Tyler Kauk (D) 1993; Austin Yano (D) 1994; Hudson Morrison (F) 1994; Travis Pelletier (G) 1994. Flin Flon: Cameron Blair (F) 1993; Brett Boehm (F) 1995; Dillan McCombie (F) 1994; Devin Buffalo (G) 1993. Kindersley: Shaun MacPherson (D) 1994; Brett Blatz (D) 1993; Stefan Seel (F) 1994. LaRonge: Jason Berube (F) 1994; Rhyse Dieno (F) 1993; Owen Laclare (F) 1995. Melfort: Jay Aasen (D) 1994; Brandon Sloan (F) 1993. Melville: Allen Kilback (F) 1994; Russell Trudeau (F) 1993; Troy Trombley (G) 1994 ; TJ Reeve (F) 1994. Nipawin: David Heath (D) 1994; Mitch Doell (F) 1993; Tad Kozun (F) 1993; Taylor Balog (F) 1994. Notre Dame: Colton Laroque (D) 1994; Sam Aulie (F) 1994; Ian Williams (F) 1995. Weyburn: Carter Struthers (D) 1993; Thomas Carleton (F) 1994; Lane Harbor (F) 1994. Yorkton: Dylan Baer (D) 1994; Brady Norrish (D) 1993; Kailum Gervais (F) 1995.
