Skinner to play in the Sask Winter Games

By Kelly Elder
Every little boy who plays hockey dreams of something bigger. . . of course the biggest dream is to play in the NHL, but for now, 17 year-old Logan Skinner of Coronach will settle for playing in the Saskatchewan Winter Games in February.
Skinner, along with teammates from the Coronach Midget Broncos Tyren Kupper and Christopher Bartlett, attended the Zone 3 Midget camp in Central Butte with hopes of being chosen for the Zone team.
The boys began camp on January 15 with a registration meeting where the players heard about the Winter Games. For Skinner and his mom Denise, this was the first time they heard that the zone team would be playing in the games.
Winter games are held every four years, and this year's games are scheduled from February 14 - 20 in Moose Jaw.
The hockey games begin on February 14 at various rinks in Moose Jaw, with the playoff round on February 17.
This was the second zone camp for Logan, having attended once when he was Bantam aged. He did not make the zone team that year.
Skinner has played minor hockey in Coronach since Jr. Novice. During that time, he has played summer hockey four times and recognized a number of players at the zone camp from those teams.
Nearly 100 players, up this year because of the Winter Game proponent, participated in the three day camp.
The players were divided into four teams and had an ice session on Friday evening and Saturday morning, followed by games on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
Players received no evaluation at the camp, but the Coronach players felt they had a good camp.
Logan said, "I thought I played good. When I left, I wasn't 100% sure I'd get a call, but I was hoping for one. The Winter Games is a big thing so I though it'd be pretty sweet to play there."
The players left the rink to head home and wait by the phone. While Kupper and Bartlett did not receive the coveted call, Skinners' phone rang on Sunday evening.
Logan said, "They said they'd call by 7:00, but they didn't call till 7:30"
The coach that called commented on the surprise that he heard in Logan's voice. "He said you sound surprised and I said really. . . I was kinda shocked. I said, I kinda was and he said they thought I played good."
Skinner sits at the top of the scoring race of the Coronach Broncos, tied for second in the South Central Minor Hockey Midget League with 35 points, three points back from the leader.
Skinner will get together with the Zone team the weekend before the Winter Games for one set of practices.
Other area hockey players that will be representing the zone at the Winter Games are Austin Lightfoot from Assiniboia who plays for Notre Dame, Eric Stewart from Rockglen who plays for Glentworth, Eric Therrien from Willow Bunch who plays for Notre Dame, Lane Harbor from Val Marie who plays for Swift Current, Riley Gauthier from Gravelbourg and Travis Marit from Assiniboia.
The remainder of the team members are: Ben Dancey - Central Butte, Mitchell Taylor - Eastend, Craig Fournier - Maple Creek, Dylan Koch - Fox Valley. From Moose Jaw - Layton Ludwar, Brandin Cannon, Justin Nelson, Lucas McKay, Regan James Silverside. And from Swift Current - Myles Hovdebo, Hayden Johnston, Chad Schultz, Daylan Gatzke.