Ty Comrie, Parker Wotherspoon Face-off for U-16 Challenge Cup Gold

BC TO FACE ALBERTA FOR GOLD; SASKATCHEWAN BATTLES MANITOBA FOR BRONZE – Team BC will host Team Alberta for the Gold medal on Sunday afternoon at the 2012 Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup, while Team Saskatchewan takes on Team Manitoba for Bronze on Sunday morning.

Team BC finished the round-robin portion of the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record, including a 4-3 shootout victory over Team Alberta (2-0-1) on the opening night of the tournament.  Alberta held a 3-0 lead but BC stormed back for three goals in the third period and won it on Jansen Harkins’ shootout goal.  Seattle Thunderbirds’ Bantam Draft pick Matthew Barzal and Swift Current Broncos’ prospect Glenn Gawdin led Team B.C. in scoring with four points apiece.

Team Alberta, the two-time defending champion, earned their berth in Sunday’s Gold medal game by beating Manitoba 8-1 on Friday then blanking Saskatchewan 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.  Alberta forwards Nick Merkley, a Kelowna Rockets prospect, and Braylon Shmyr, a Brandon Wheat Kings prospect, share the tournament scoring lead with seven points apiece through three games.  Alberta Goaltender Zach Sawchenko boasts a tournament-best .961 save percentage.

The Bronze medal contest features Team Saskatchewan (1-2) and Team Manitoba (0-3).  The teams met up in the first game of the tournament on Thursday afternoon, with Saskatchewan erasing a 3-1 deficit to post a 6-3 win over Manitoba.

Team Manitoba forward Colt Conrad, a Lethbridge Hurricanes Bantam Draft pick, and defenceman James Shearer, a Calgary Hitmen prospect, shared the team scoring lead with a goal and two assists apiece through three games, while Team Saskatchewan defenceman Ethan Bear, a Seattle Thunderbirds prospect, shared the tournament lead with three goals.

For more information on the 2012 Western Canada Under-16 Challenge Cup, CLICK HERE

MEDAL ROUND SCHEDULE:
*All games will take place at Father David Bauer arena (Calgary, AB)

Sunday, November 4
Game #7 – BRONZE MEDAL GAME; Manitoba @ Saskatchewan, 9:30am MST
Game #8 – GOLD MEDAL GAME; Alberta @ British Columbia, 1:00pm MST

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