Aryn Chambers (top) and Kylie Perry will represent Team Alberta at the upoming U18 Nationals in Manitoba. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

the next level

Pair of central Albertans headed to U18 National Championships

Oct 20, 2019 | 12:00 PM

Two local hockey players are just a fortnight out from competing at the U18 National Championships in Morden and Winkler, Manitoba.

Kylie Perry, a forward from Clive, and Aryn Chambers of Blackfalds, who plays defense, will represent Team Alberta at the tournament, which is the first major competition for that age level since the 2019 Canada Winter Games at which Alberta won gold.

Chambers, 17, was one of the final cuts ahead of that tournament, which makes finally putting on the Team Alberta jersey extra special.

“I found that I kind of wanted it more this year, and it’s my last run at it, so it was like I need to be there and want to be there. Last year watching the girls, especially here in Red Deer, I wished I was there,” she laments.

“I’ll have to adapt (to the competition). We recently played the U of A Pandas, so I’m thinking it’ll be around the same as that, and it’ll be fast.”

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Chambers previously competed at the 2017 Challenge Cup, which pits teams from Alberta’s different regions against one another. She has 10 penalty minutes in three games this season with the Midget AAA Sutter Fund Chiefs.

Perry, who’s played for nine years, and with the boys until peewee much like Chambers, describes representing Alberta.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play at the next level and I was really excited when I made it because I knew I’d be representing the province,” the 16-year-old says. “Speed is a strength in my game, and getting the puck deep and chasing.”

Perry also plays for the Midget AAA Chiefs; she has one goal and one assist to go with eight penalty minutes in three games.

The squad’s director of operations is Red Deer’s Kendall Newell, while Brett Wold of Red Deer is also serving as an assistant coach.

The U18 Nationals get going Nov. 5