Four Richmond players have been shortlisted for B.C. Hockey provincial teams slated to play in national competitions this fall.
Blueliners Courtney Vorster and Kate Reilly, along forward Katie Chan, are among 26 players being considered for Team B.C. that will be competing at the National Women’s U18 Championship, Nov. 1-5 in Quebec City.
They were identified following a week-long provincial camp, held earlier this month in Shawnigan Lake.
Vorster, 17, is poised to make the team for the third straight year and is a prime candidate to serve as captain. Last season, she was one of just four 16-year-olds named to the Canadian team that won silver at the U18 World Championships in the Czech Republic.
She is also among 42 players invited to Hockey Canada’s U18 selection camp, slated for Aug. 5-13 in Calgary. Vorster, along with goalies Kate Stuart and Kendra Woodland, are the only B.C. born players in contention to make the national team.
Reilly, 16, will be looking to play for Team B.C. for the second straight year. Both Vorster and Reilly attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s Hockey Academy and played on Minnesota boarding school’s Prep and U16 teams respectively last year.
Chan continues to make an impression against older competition and is the lone 14-year-old being considered for Team B.C.
She helped the Richmond Ravens come within a game of winning the Bantam provincial championship last season.
It was her first year of girls hockey after playing on boys A1 rep teams with Seafair Minor Hockey right through the Pee Wee level.
The standout athlete also helped the Steveston-London Sharks finish second at the B.C. Grade 8 Girls Basketball Championships last March, earning tournament all-star honours.
The U18 B.C. Team roster will be announced following a final selection camp scheduled for Sept. 28-Oct. 1.
Meanwhile, Tyler Horstmann is among 35 players shortlisted for Team B.C. that will be participating in the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, Oct, 17-22 in Calgary.
Horstmann came through Seafair's rep program before playing for Delta Hockey Academy’s top Bantam Prep team last season. He will be returning home for the upcoming campaign to suit up for the Richmond Olympic Oval-based Greater Vancouver Canadians of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League.
The 15-year-old forward was also selected 70th overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings in last spring’s Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
Players will continue to be evaluated on their respective club teams during the early part of the season before the final roster is announced in October.
Horstmann advanced to the final 35 following a week-long provincial camp, also held at Shawnigan Lake.
