The Martensville Marauder U15 AA hockey team has had quite the season thus far. After playing a total of 14 games, the team currently has a record of 11 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie, which puts them near the top of the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League (SAAHL).
From October 28-31, the U15 AA team attended the Graham Tuer U15 Challenge in Regina, which included 32 teams from across Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. The team finished first in their pool; however, were defeated by the Saskatoon Stallions in the quarter finals.
Team Captain Kazden Mathies lead the tournament scoring with an incredible 21 points, which he earned through 14 goals and 7 assists. Mathies was also awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, which Team Manager Chris Mathies explained was voted on by a large amount of Western Hockey League (WHL) and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) Scouts that were in attendance. “This is a huge accomplishment with over 500 players in attendance,” Mathies said.
Following their loss in the Graham Tuer Challenge, the Marauders attended their second tournament of the season on November 18-21 at the Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds U15 AAA Tournament. According to Mathies, this is one of the longest standing tournaments in Western Canada, as it is in it’s 48th year.
This tournament saw 16 teams from across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. participate and the Martensville team came with one thing on their mind – winning. Following five straight wins after one loss in the round robin, the team came out victorious winning the championship game against Okotoks 5-0, who they lost to 4-3 in the round robin.
This marks the first time that a Saskatchewan team has won the championship since 2001, and the sixth time in the entire 48-year history of the tournament.
Captain Mathies once again came out as the top scorer of the tournament with 16 points from 8 goals and 8 assists and also brought home several awards including; MVP, First All-Star Team Selection and Top Forward. Mathies also received a $2,500 scholarship sponsored by the Medicine Hat Tigers. “This accomplishment makes Kazden the MVP of two of the larger tournaments in the U15 age group in Western Canada,” Manager Chris Mathies said. Additionally, Carsen Adair was named to the First All Star Team as a defenseman.
Currently, the team is entering a period without any games as the second-year players begin their journey within the Sask First Program, where they competed this past weekend in Aberdeen in the Regional Sask First Selection Camp. From there, selected players will move on to the Top 160 Tournament in Regina, which will take place over the Christmas holidays.
“The ultimate goal is for Saskatchewan Hockey to select 20 players to represent Saskatchewan in the 2023 Canada Games in Prince Edward Island,” Chris Mathies explained.
Following the Christmas break, the team will continue with their season goal of winning the SAAHL Championship and attend the Western Canadian Crown in Edmonton from January 14-16 where they will compete against elite competition from across Western Canada.
PHOTO CAPTION ABOVE: The Martensville Marauder U15 AA team following their championship win at the Medicine Hat Hounds Tournament. Back Row (left to right): Head Coach Shaun Priel, Assistant Coach Josh Priel, Teigan Semchyshen, Tyler Hale, Simon Garchinski, Carsen Adair, Kaden Shumay, Kazden Mathies, Assistant Coach Todd White. Middle Row (left to right): Grady Stoddart-Reis, Cohen Klassen, Evan Skoronski, Kohen Pierce, Kash Ringdal, Tyson Janzen, Cooper Flath. Goalies Front Row (left to right): Corben Schnurr, Brit Vandenameele. Missing: Clark Goebel, Austin Root.