Richmond hockey standouts Kate Reilly and Katie Chan are back in Team BC colours and this time will be representing their province at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer come February.
The pair are among 20 named to the U18 Team BC roster on Sunday following the final three-day selection camp in Penticton.
It marks the third straight year Reilly has made the team.
The 17-year-old blueliner has been developing her game at Shattuck St-Mary’s — a renowned hockey boarding school in Minnesota. She is currently a member of the Prep Team that will be defending its U.S. national championship later this season and carries an unbeaten 30-0-2 record into 2019.
Reilly has 13 points, including five goals.
Chan, 15, is back for her second year with Team BC after being the youngest player in the tournament at the 2017 U18 Nationals last November where BC earned bronze.
The high-scoring forward developed her game with Seafair Minor and the Richmond Ravens before heading to the Fraser Valley Rush of the B.C. Female Midget AAA League last season.
Now she is a member of the Delta Hockey Academy in Tsawwassen and currently leads the Wild’s Girls Prep Team in scoring with 25 points in 17 games, including 13 goals.
Kelowna’s Sarah Paul is the only other 2003-born player on the BC team.
The roster was finalized following an extensive tryout process that included the BC Cup last spring and a week-long provincial camp at Shawnigan Lake. Richmond's Jessica Soon, another 2003-born forward who is a Ravens alumni and teammates with Chan at DHA, was shortlisted for the team.
“We are very proud of this group of talented young hockey players and look forward to watching them represent BC on the national stage,” said BC Hockey Chief Executive Officer, Barry Petrachenko. “The coaching staff and evaluators have done an exceptional job in selecting the team and preparing Team BC to meet the challenges of a multi-sport event like the Canada Winter Games.”
Team BC kicks off the 2019 Canada Winter Games on Feb. 24 against Alberta. Team BC will also face Ontario and Nova Scotia in preliminary play prior to the quarter-finals that start on Feb. 28 Hockey will be played at the downtown and Kinex Arenas along with the Centrium in Red Deer.
British Columbia had their highest finish ever, winning the silver medal in 1991. BC finished sixth at the last Canada Winter Games held in Prince George, BC in 2015.
Earlier this month, Richmond forward Michael Abgrall was named to the BC U16 Male team headed to the Canada Winter Games.
