Richmond forward Michael Abgrall is among 20 players named to Team BC that is headed to the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer — Feb. 16-to-March 3.
Abgrall got through an extensive selection process that began last spring at the U16 BC Cup and continued with a week long summer camp in Shawnigan Lake.
Abgrall currently plays for Burnaby Winter Club Academy’s Elite 15 team in the Canadian School Sport Hockey League where he is second in team scoring with 32 points in 19 games, including 18 goals. He came through the Seafair Minor Hockey rep program and last year helped the Islanders capture the provincial A1 and Western Canadian championships.
Abgrall was selected in the fourth round by the Edmonton Oil Kings in last May’s Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
He was one of several Islanders that were initially invited to the BC Cup.
Team B.C. will be coming together for a four-day camp in Penticton Dec. 20-23.
“This is an exciting time for a special group of players,” said BC Hockey Chief Executive Officer Barry Petrachenko. “The opportunity to represent their province in a multi-sport event will be a great experience and stands as a tremendous accomplishment for the players, and we want to thank the coaches and staff for all their efforts in bringing our team together and supporting them throughout this journey as members of Team BC.”
The roster also features Greater Vancouver Canadians forward Trevor Wong who played at St. Georges last season and was selected 18th overall in the Bantam Draft by Kelowna.
The rest of the team includes: Goalies — Keegan Maddocks (Langley), Thomas Milic (Coquitlam); Defencemen — Nolan Bentham (Victoria), Elia Carmichael (Langley), Tyson Galloway (Kamloops) Ty Gibson (Victoria), Jack O’Brien (Surrey), Graham Sward (Abbotsford); Forwards — Caedan Bankier (Surrey), Jake Chiasson (Yale), Cage Newans (Qualicum Beach), Carson Latimer (Surrey), Steel Quiring (Vernon), Matthew Seminoff (Coquitlam), Logan Stankoven (Kamloops), Seiya Tanaka-Campbell (Mill Bay), Kobe Verbicy (Bowser) and Finlay Williams (North Van).
The team is coached by Steve O’Rourke.
Three other Richmond players — Kate Reilly, Katie Chan and Jessica Soon — are among 26 players shortlisted for the B.C. U18 Female Team headed to Red Deer.
