Members of the West Kootenay Wildcats bantam team headed to Invermere this past weekend looking to earn a spot on the Zone 1 team that will take part in February’s BC Winter Games.
After a tough weekend of practice, scrimmages and fitness testing four local girls cracked the final squad.
Earning a ticket to Vernon on Feb. 23 to 26 were Kaslo’s Catalina Hartland, who plays goal for the Wildcats, Nelson forwards Jesse Cooper and Emma Hare, and Nelson defenceman Merissa Dawson.
The camp was open to all players born in 1997 and 1998 in the East and West Kootenay. A total of 30 girls tried out for the team.
Other Wildcats who will be representing the Kootenay are Julie Sidoni and Stephanie McAuley from Trail and Kira Streliev of Nakusp.
The Wildcats are enjoying a solid season of play so far. In the West Kootenay Minor Hockey bantam house league, the Castlegar-based girls’ team currently sits second amongst teams primarily comprised of boys.