Drop the puck.
This weekend marks the start of Sask First tournament hockey, as the midget boys' and girls' tournaments take place in Regina.
The Zone 7 team, which is one of the largest zones geographically, starts off the tournament against Zone 8, northern Saskatchewan, Friday. Saturday, the team will face Zone 3, the Swift Current-Moose Jaw area, in the morning and Zone 5, the Humboldt area, in the evening with the finals set for Sunday.
Just one player from the Battlefords Barons made the team, 1996-born forward Logan Nachtegaele.
Nachtegaele will be joined by Unity Lazers' forwards Mark Ganter, Dustin McAleer and Cole Mcbride. Also defenceman Rhys Kipling and Daniel Mitchell along with goaltender Ryan Rewerts of Cut Knife all played in Unity and were selected to the team.
The Midwest Red Wings are also well represented, as Marc LaClare of Edam, Ty Ross of Paynton, Reed Delainey of Glaslyn and Kylar Hope of Lashburn were all named to the team.
Chase Smith, who played with Neilberg was selected to the team as a defenceman and Borden's Dustin Bezugly, who played in Martensville, made the team as a forward.
Zone 7's roster also includes a goaltender from Eston, defenceman and forwards from Meadow Lake and forwards from Rosetown, Macklin and Kerrobert teams.
The midget team has nine third year players, six second years and five first year midgets.
Also playing in the midget tournament will be Spiritwood's Anthony Radke. He was selected to Zone 8's roster as a forward.
The girls' Sask First tournament will also be held in Regina this weekend and like the boys, Zone 7 is strongly represented by local area players.
Taylor Durocher (Meadow Lake), Raeanna Kelly (Cut Knife), Kendra Gerbig (Battleford), Shania Rhinehart (Paynton) and Delaney Ross (Meadow Lake) will represent the Battlefords AAA Sharks.
Other Sharks included bantam goalie Danae Bugler, midget defencemen Brooke Forbes, and Keinyn Nordell and forwards Jetta Derenoski and Brooke Lonoway.
Neilburg's Chloe Marshall and Kylie Gillanders were also named to the team.
One player from Plenty and one from Rosetwon also made the team while the remainder of the Zone 7 team is compiled of six players who moved to play in Saskatoon or Notre Dame this season.
Mallori Roy of Beauval played with the AAA Sharks this season and was named to the Zone 8 roster.
The female Zone 7 team ranging from 1995 to '98-born players will face Zone 5, 2 and 3 in round robin play before the finals Sunday.
Although the bantam Sask First tournament isn't taking place until April 20 to 22 in Regina, the rosters for that tournament have been released as well.
Zone 7's roster includes 11 players from the Battlefords Bantam AA Barons. Those players are: goaltender Wyatt Malenfant of Meota, defencemen Ben Lanfermann of Paradise Hill, Matt Vidal of Meadow Lake, North Battleford's Connor Sych and Trya Tkatchuk and forwards Kevin Bendall of North Battleford, Kirk Glassford of Wilkie, Keifer Hintz of Maidstone, Connor Manegre of Meota, Blake Roberton of Unity and Layne Young of Frenchman Butte.
The West Central Wheat Kings had seven players hailing from Rosetown, Macklin, Dodsland and Eatonia make the team as well.
Radisson's Ryan Rothenburger, who played for the Sask Valley Vipers, also made the team.
One player on the team from Rosetown played in Notre Dame this season and rounded out the roster of 20.
The Bantam Barons' top scorer Colton Iron of Canoe Narrows made the Zone 8 team.
Along with the players, one official from the Battlefords will be in Regina April 20 to 22. Jordan Gay of North Battleford was selected to officiate the tournament for the second time.
