THUNDERBIRDS

5 T-Birds prospects to play in 2016 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup

Oct 6, 2016, 12:59 PM | Updated: 3:15 pm

The 2016 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup featuring the top under-16 prospects from the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan is set to run from Oct. 19-23.

Five T-Birds have been selected to play in this year’s tournament. 2016 Bantam Draft picks Layton Ahac (third round, 66th overall) and Alex Swetlikoff (third, 62nd overall)  will suit up for Team British Columbia, Eric Fawkes (second, 40th overall) and Nakodan Greyeyes (sixth, 117th overall) will represent Team Manitoba, and Jake Lee (first, 18th overall) will play for Team Alberta.

The tournament churns out elite talent every year, including the likes of recent T-Birds stars Mathew Barzal (2012), Ryan Gropp (2011), Ethan Bear (2012) and Keegan Kolesar (2012). Two of Seattle’s top 16 year olds this year, center Elijah Brown and backup goaltender Carl Stankowski, led Team Alberta to the gold medal in the tournament last season. Kabir Gill, a defenseman who had an outside shot to make the team this year, played for Team British Columbia last fall.

Every year, the Challenge Cup is a good indicator of the next class of top-level talent that will be entering the WHL. The five Thunderbirds prospects who will be participating all had a strong first training camp with Seattle and have a legitimate shot to make the team next year when there will be high turnover among the forward and defense groups.

If you look down the list of past Challenge Cup All-Stars and participants, it’s a who’s who of WHL stars and future NHL draftees. In addition to the T-Birds mentioned above, players like Matt Dumba, Jake Virtanen, Brayden Point, Nick Merkley, Tyler Benson and Nolan Patrick have taken part.

With an impressive contingent set to participate this year, the T-Birds pipeline appears stocked with talent in the 2001-born age group.

Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds GM Bil La Forge has some moves to make this offseason. (Brian Liesse/T-Birds photo)...

Andy Eide

Thunderbirds GM Bil La Forge dishes on the upcoming offseason

Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge will make some moves this summer to improve his club. Will they be big ones?

3 years ago

Seattle’s Keltie Jeri-Leon celebrates his final WHL goal Sunday against Spokane. (Brian Liess...

Andy Eide

Thunderbirds end strange and hard season on a high note with dominating win over Spokane

The Seattle Thunderbirds dealt with a lot of adversity this season but end on a high note.

3 years ago

Keltie Jeri-Leon plays his final WHL game for the Thunderbirds Sunday night. (Brian Liesse)...

Andy Eide

Keltie Jeri-Leon set to play his final WHL game as Thunderbirds face Spokane Sunday

After five seasons, Seattle's lone over-aged player, Keltie Jeri-Leon will play his final junior game Sunday night.

3 years ago

Seattle rookie Scott Ratzlaff won his first WHL game in his first start. (Judy Simpson/TC Americans...

Andy Eide

Scott Ratzlaff earns first WHL win as Thunderbirds beat Tri-City

Behind a rookie goalie, the Thunderbirds kicked off the season's final weekend with a 5-2 win in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans.

3 years ago

The Seattle Thunderbirds celebrate after snapping a six-game losing streak Sunday night. (Brian Lie...

Andy Eide

Thunderbirds enjoy winning again after snapping six-game losing streak

The Seattle Thunderbirds have been scuffling but battled against a good Portland Winterhawks club to snap a six-game losing streak.

3 years ago

Thunderbirds forward Reid Schaefer fights for position Sunday in Portland. (Megan Connelly/Winterha...

Andy Eide

Dealing with adversity, young Thunderbirds drop pair of games in Portland

Injuries and penalties have thrown a ton of adversity at the young Thunderbirds which showed up in a pair of losses at Portland this weekend.

3 years ago

5 T-Birds prospects to play in 2016 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup