Two U15 Brusiers Invited to Play at Nationals

As we pass the mid-point of July most of us thought the ball hockey season was over. Turns out it isn't for everyone, specifically Ethan Hall and Carter Allen.

Ethan and Carter played the full season in the GCBHL league this spring in the Minors/Majors division, which consists of local ball hockey players aged 13 to 18. Tryouts were held mid-season for all ages 8 and up to represent GCBHL at the Alberta Minor Ball Hockey Association Provincials tournament on the July long weekend in Calgary. Ethan and Carter were standouts all season playing together on the 'Red Team' and naturally selected for the GCBHL U15 Bruisers Provincials team as they tied for second in league scoring.

In Calgary, the U15 Bruisers lost to the Edmonton Stars Red team in the semi-finals [remember that name]. They regrouped and finished strong with an overtime win in the bronze medal game, and Ethan and Carter lead the charge.

The same Bruisers team, and the only team from Medicine Hat, made the trip up to Edmonton a couple of weeks later to play in the CBHA Western Challenge Cup that hosted 46 teams from Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.  The experience of playing in Calgary brought our Bruisers closer together but they came up one win short of making the medal round losing in overtime on Saturday evening. A key win earlier in the day however was against the Edmonton Stars Red - team they lost to in the Semis in Calgary. [that name again!]

Fast forward a week and a half, U15 Bruiser coach Derek Boschee received a praising email from the Edmonton Stars Black team staff, commending his team on their performance. The message concluded with an invitation for Ethan and Carter to join them, on short notice, and play in the CBHA Junior Nationals tournament in Newfoundland.  Ethan and Carter were picked out as the Black team was watching their sister team play the Bruisers. The rest is history!

Ethan and Carter immediately began fundraising on their own, starting with a bottle drive. With family and local media support they gained more attention and received a substantial sponsorship to offset travel costs to get to Newfoundland.

Our league is extremely proud of Ethan and Carter for both their commitment to their league and tournament teams, and especially for their initiative in coming up with their own fundraiser. We suspect there was some parental motivation behind this as well, but we will leave the spotlight on the boys!

Congrats Ethan and Carter. We trust you'll represent GCBHL well.

Regards,
Gas City Ball Hockey League