If you mistake the roster of the Central team in the Alberta Cup that starts today (April 26) for the lineup of the 2017 - 2018 Airdrie Xtreme, don't feel too bad.

The 20 man roster of Team Central consists of no less than seven members of the Xtreme, this year's Alberta Bantam Champions and the Silver Medalists in the Western Canadian Bantam Hockey Championships.

Defencemen Keagan Slaney, along with forwards Craig Armstrong, Brett Moravec and Tristan Zandee from Airdrie along with Cochrane's Ty Mueller and Sam Vincent and Colton Koran of Carstairs, all forwards, will play for the Central team, one of eight from across Alberta playing this weekend in the tournament in Spruce Grove.

The rosters are made up of the best 2003 born players in the province.  The teams are playing in the four day, tournament-format competition which also consists of an education seminar hosted by the Western Hockey League.

The tournament is well attended by WHL scouts searching for talent in preparation for the Western Hockey League's bantam draft.  In addition to player evaluations, the tournament is also an opportunity for administrators, coaches, trainers, and referees to be evaluated for future positions with the Team Alberta Hockey Program.  

The Central team sees their first action this morning at 9:30 am when they face Team Northwest.  Their second game is with Calgary North at 5:30 pm today.  They'll play their final round robin game Friday at 11:30 am against Edmonton Yellow.  The playoffs go Saturday and Sunday.

Alberta Cup graduates include NHLers Matt Dumba, Braden Holtby, Jay Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf, Scott Hartnell, Jordan Eberle, Devan Dubnyk and Andrew Ferrence.  

 

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