Stringer makes Team Alberta

Lethbridge’s Zack Stringer is joining a host of Western Hockey League first-round picks at the Canada Winter Games.

Stringer, who was selected by his hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes in the first round and eighth overall in this year’s WHL Bantam Draft, will be among 11 first-round selections to represent Team Alberta at the 2019 Canada Winter Games Feb. 15 to March 3 in Red Deer.

In 19 games with the Lethbridge midget AAA Hurricanes of the Alberta Midget Hockey League, Stringer has eight goals and 30 points. Heading into the weekend the Canes — the defending AMHL champions — lead the league with a 163-0 record, one point ahead of the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs.

Among the Team Alberta’s roster is first overall pick Dylan Guenther of Edmonton, who was selected by the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Of the 20 players on the roster, 19 were selected at the WHL Bantam Draft in June.

The roster consists of two goaltenders, six defencemen and 11 forwards.

Alberta won the silver medal at the 2015 games in Prince George, B.C. and has won a medal a seven-straight Canada Winter Games dating back to 1991, but hasn’t won gold since 2003.

Alberta has won gold four times (1967, 1975 in Lethbridge, 1999, 2003), silver four times (1971, 1991, 1995, 2015) and bronze twice (2007, 2011).

Alberta will begin their tournament, Feb. 16 against Saskatchewan, followed by games against Manitoba and British Columbia.