YORKTON – A youth from Yorkton has been selected to play for the Saskatchewan Jr Pats.
Nine-year-old Ben Blenkin will play in three tournaments with the team, including the Brick Invitational in Edmonton which hosts teams from all over North America.
"I'm very excited, it's a dream come true and I've worked hard to get here," said Blenkin in an e-mail correspondance with Yorkton This Week.
Blenkin most recently played for the U11 AA Terriers in 2022-23 and helped the team to a league title victory in March.
Blenkin said he's been training to make the team for the past two years and his regiment is composed of training at the gym, shooting, power skating and on ice skills training.
"I hope to play the best I can and have fun playing against the best kids my age from Canada and the United States," said Blenkin, adding, "the Brick Invitational is for 1st year U11 players. The athletes get one chance in their entire career to play at this event. This year it is 2013 born athletes."
"Dale Derkach pulled Ben aside a little over 2 years ago after a training session in Regina and suggested he consider trying out for the Team Sask Brick team," said Chad Blenkin, Ben's father, adding, "he shared with him that it takes more commitment than just showing up at the rink, it also takes working out at the gym, dryland training, skills training, nutrition, and then some."
"From that day forward Ben set his mind on making this roster and worked tirelessly to achieve it," said Chad.
"There have been many skills trainers and coaches that have helped me achieve my goal–special thanks to my dad for coaching me and to skills trainers Dale Derkach, Steve Serdachny and Brett Peppler," said Ben.
