Three Williams Lake hockey players will be representing their hometown at the 2025 Male U15 Provincial Tournament in Penticton May 8 to 11.
Hudson McKinnon, Kesler Linklater and Easton Neuner were all chosen after trying out for the BC Hockey Program of Excellence.
Tryouts took place at various camps across B.C.
All three were coached this season by Brad McKinnon on the U15 rep team.
McKinnon told the Tribune he does not know how many players tried out, but there were a lot.
"From that they took the top 160," he said, explaining there will be eight teams with 20 players on each, and each team gets two goalies. "I cannot speak to what they are looking for in terms of player qualities, but they bring in evaluators and I can say this is a very significant accomplishment."
It is very competitive to get selected, he added.
"I'm super proud of them and I hope that they continue to work hard, believe in themselves, be good teammates and pursue their hockey dreams, while balancing that with their academics."
The student comes before the athlete, he added.
"That's a big part of it. Things happen in the sport and it's important to have something to fall back on and education would be mine," he said. "They are all remarkable young men and they have bright futures ahead of them."
BC Hockey said its Program of Excellence (POE) is a platform for athletes from British Columbia and Yukon who have attained an elite level within the sport.
The POE program begins for females at the U12 age group and for males at the U15 age group.
