Three hockey players on Team Alberta U16 shortlist

Three local hockey players have taken the next step toward the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

Goaltender Tyler Palmer, defenceman Carson Haynes and forward Zack Stringer are among 35 from Alberta named to the shortlist Monday for the Team Alberta U16 squad that will participate in the Winter Games in Red Deer.

Palmer, of Lethbridge, and Taber product Haynes played for the Lethbridge Val Matteotti bantam AAA Golden Hawks last season, while Stringer, also of Lethbridge, laced up with the Lethbridge midget AAA Hurricanes.

Stringer, 15, was selected in the first round and seventh overall by his hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes in this year's Western Hockey League bantam draft.

In 23 games with the Hurricanes last year, Stringer scored 17 goals and 30 points, helping the Canes to the Alberta Midget Hockey League championship title before winning the bronze medal at the Telus Cup in Sudbury, Ont.

Palmer posted a 9-7-2 record with the Golden Hawks as well as .916 save percentage and 2.40 goal-against average.

Haynes — who wore the captain's ‘C’ for the Golden Hawks last season — had eight goals and 24 points in 36 games with the Golden Hawks.

Haynes was selected in the third round and 58th overall by the Tri-City Americans in the WHL bantam draft, while Palmer was drafted by the Spokane Chiefs in the 10th round and 215th overall.

The players were selected to the shortlist based on their play throughout the Team Alberta scouting process, past Team Alberta programs and at the U16 Summer Camp in Camrose July 3-8. Eighty players were invited to Camrose and worked through high intensity on-ice sessions as well as off-ice training and classroom sessions.

The shortlisted players will be scouted with their teams in the fall prior to final decisions on the 20 players selected to the Team Alberta roster.

The Canada Winter Games run Feb. 15 to March 3.