Westman quintet set for Brick

Westman will be well represented on Manitoba’s entry into the prestigious Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament in Edmonton later next month.

Kasey Calvert of Brandon will be joined on the Manitoba Junior Ice squad of 2016-born players by Connor Hanska of Birdtail Sioux, Astor Corbett of Virden and Reston’s Johnny Henderson and Ryder Henderson.

Calvert is the son of former Brandon Wheat Kings great Matt, who went on to play 598 regular season and playoff games in the National Hockey League over 11 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche.

The 10-year-old Calvert, whose mother is Courtney, spent the regular season with Brandon U11 A1 Black

Calvert said the team has gotten a lot better since they started playing together, especially with working as a team and with their passing.

“We want to win the Brick tournament,” Calvert said. He added he doesn’t put pressure on himself, instead just goes out and plays.

The team has played in three events so far, always competing in the 2015-born age group with their younger 2016-born team. They won the consolation final at the North American Hockey Classic in Winnipeg, but just missed the playoffs in the Hockey Hall of Fame Series in Toronto and the Spring Shootout in Winnipeg.

They still have the North American Spring Showcase in Toronto (June 5-7), NAHC Elite in Winnipeg (June 11-14) and the Brick Invitational, which is held at the West Edmonton Mall from June 29 to July 6.

Corbett, 10, whose parents are Jason and Britt, said the team is a lot of fun.

“I like the compete and I like to make new friends,” Corbett said.

The 15-man roster also has players from Winnipeg, Ste. Anne, Beulah, Beausejour, Niverville, Oakville, La Salle and Stonewall.

Hanska, 10, whose parents are Doug and Destiny, played last winter with the Queen City Young Guns and the Birtle Bruins.

“It’s really exciting to compete,” Hanska said. “Hopefully we work hard enough.”

He is also an accomplished golfer who played in the Champion of Champions World Championship in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland last summer.

The three-day event brought 250 junior golfers from more than 40 countries to the Lough Erne Resort at the end of July, with Hanska finishing 10th in his age division.

“It helps with keeping my attitude and to compete against others,” Hanska said. “It was really fun.”

The Junior Ice program was established in 2019, and now offers more than 50 male and female spring hockey teams between the ages of six and 13.

The two Hendersons, who aren’t related, spent last season together with the Reston Rockets U11 club.

Johnny, 9, whose parents are Tyler and Angie, said he was thrilled when he made the club.

“There were four tryouts,” Johnny Henderson said. “I was jumping up excited. I called Ryder.”

Ryder, 9, whose parents are Corby and Marie, said skating against talented opponents is difficult but he enjoys it.

“It’s really fun,” Ryder Henderson said. “It’s hard to play against all the teams but we have to compete and win a few games to make it to the finals.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com