WINNIPEG- Hockey Manitoba is pleased to announce the team captains for both U-16 male and U-18 female rosters who’ll lead their respective teams on ice at upcoming championship events.

Colt Conrad (St. Alphonse), currently playing with the Pembina Valley Hawks (Midget AAA) has been named captain of U-16 Team Manitoba. Conrad was an influential factor in leading the Pembina Valley Hawks (Bantam AAA) to a 2011-12 provincial title and a bronze medal at the 2012 Western Canada Bantam Championship. This past May he was selected in the 3rd round selection (53rd overall) by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Also leading the U-16 team on ice as assistant captains will be Braden Purtill (Winnipeg) currently playing with the Winnipeg Thrashers (Midget AAA) and Meyer Nell (Boissevain) currently playing with the Southwest Cougars (Midget AAA).

Halli Krzyzaniak (Neepawa) has been named captain of the U-18 Team Manitoba squad. Krzyzaniak will be competing for the third time with U-18 Team Manitoba with one more season of eligibility after this year’s championship. As one of the country’s top defense prospects, she was a member of U-18 Team Canada who won gold at the 2012 IIHF World U-18 Women’s Championship in Zlin, Czech Republic this past January. U-18 Team Manitoba will have three assistant captains being; Ashleigh Brykaliuk (Brandon), Madison Hutchinson (Manitou), and Haley Studler (Grosse Isle).

Hockey Manitoba is also please to acknowledge our high performance officials who will travel to officiate at the U-16 and U-18 championship events. Josh Ginter (Winkler) has been selected to work at the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup. Ginter is a certified Level 4 official, and currently referees in the KJHL (Jr. B), MMJHL (Jr. OA) & Midget AAA hockey, and also is a linesman for CIS (University) & MJHL (Jr. A) games. He also is an officials instructor & mentor in Pembina Valley region. Danielle McGurry (Winnipeg) has been selected by Hockey Canada to officiate at the National U-18 Women’s Championship. Danielle is also a certified Level 4 official, currently reffing and lining in the MWJHL (Jr. Women’s), MFMHL (Fem. Midget AAA), along with working both male City Midget AAA and male Bantam AAA games. She also instructs, and works as a mentor for local developing officials.

U-16 Team Manitoba will play an exhibition game on Monday, October 29th versus the Winnipeg Wild (Midget AAA) at MTS Iceplex, game time 6:10 PM. U-16 Team Manitoba will travel November 1-4 to Calgary, AB to compete against the Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan for the right to earn western bragging rights. U-18 Team Manitoba is also coming off a medal performance as they earned a bronze in the 2011 National Women’s U-18 Championships and will be looking to improve upon last year’s result at the 2012 National Women’s U-18 Championships, November 7-11 in Dawson Creek, BC.

Follow Team Manitoba’s results daily by visiting the Team Manitoba Headquarters online at www.hockeymanitoba.ca. Team Manitoba Headquarters will be the official landing point for all Team Manitoba information and event links including rosters, schedules, game summaries, webcast links, and more.

Hockey Manitoba is pleased to acknowledge the recent partnership renewal with Canad Inns and its subsidiaries. Hockey Manitoba is excited to continue business relations with Canad Inns as the Official Hotel of Hockey Manitoba and a proud Official Partner of the Program of Excellence. Hockey Manitoba is also pleased to recognize Reebok-CCM Hockey as an Official Partner of the Program of Excellence.