The 2016 Esso Cup teams are almost all finalized, as the host Southern Range Gold Wings and the community of Weyburn get ready for the national female midget tournament.
The 2016 Esso Cup will be held at Crescent Point Place from April 17 to 23.
The Saskatoon Stars won the Western Regionals championships. The Stars eliminated the Weyburn Southern Range Gold Wings in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League playoffs. They beat the Yellowhead Chiefs from Manitoba to qualify for the tournament.
The Atlantic Region will be represented by Metro Boston Pizza from Nova Scotia. They went undefeated in the Atlantic qualifying tournament.
The Express du Richelieu will be representing Quebec. The Rocky Mountain Raiders advance to the tournament from the Pacific Region. The Ontario champions have yet to be determined.
In other Gold Wings news, Madison Solie has signed with the Nipissing Lakers in North Bay, Ont.
Madison will be on a hockey scholarship starting 2017-2018 season and will be enrolled in nursing. In the interim, Madison will be playing with the Etobicoke Dolphins Junior hockey club in Toronto for her Grade 12 year for the 2016-2017 hockey season.
The Gold Wings have also set their dates for the annual Spring Prospect Camp, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1.
The Prospect Camp will introduce each player to an elite level of hockey, allowing young women to showcase their abilities in practice skills and game performance. This camp will also give our scouts and coaching staff an opportunity to identify some players for the 2016-2017 season, as well as prospects for future seasons.
With all of the growth and success in women’s hockey and all of the skills that are being shown in Saskatchewan, Weyburn is serious about maintaining a competitive team for years to come. The Gold Wings are a growing team, a growing league and their organization is confident in the players they have identified.
