Talented bantam-age hockey players from all over southeast Saskatchewan came to Estevan on the weekend to show off their game.
Spectra Place was the host venue for the Zone 1 selection camp for the annual Sask First tournament.
Roughly 60 players, not including walk-ons, participated in the tournament and were divided into four teams.
Zone 1 head coach Darren Miller of Weyburn said that although he could not reveal the final roster until it is approved by the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, three local players made the cut. All three are forwards.
Miller described Estevan's Ty Brown, who is playing bantam AAA at Notre Dame, as one of the top four forwards at the camp.
The others who made the roster are Estevan's Colton Winton and Midale's Kolten Ganson, both playing with the bantam AA Bruins.
"The competition level seemed good. I'm not sure about the talent pool this year, it seemed like it was a little (weaker). All in all, I think it was a pretty good camp," said Miller.
"First and foremost, you look for the most skilled kids. You also look for a little bit of size. (But it's) not always size - we took a few skilled small guys as well. We're looking for well-rounded players who work hard at both ends of the ice."
Aside from Brown, Miller said the other standout forwards were Taylor Ross of Kronau, who is a teammate of Brown's with the Hounds; Jared Legien of Pilot Butte, who plays with the Prairie Storm bantam AA club; and Caleb Riess of Rocanville, who plays bantam AA in Melville.
Miller said the top two defencemen in camp were Moosomin's Dawson Davidson, who plays in Melville, and Jeffrey Faith, a 6-foot-2 rearguard from Wilcox who plays in his hometown with Brown and Ross.
The camp began on Friday with a skill session for each of the four teams. On Saturday, there were two more skill sessions with teams combined into two groups, and the afternoon featured a goalie session along with two games.
The camp closed out on Sunday with two more games.
The Sask First tournament will take place April 12-14 at the Co-Operators Centre in Regina.
