Burnaby will be represented on a B.C. provincial hockey team set to compete at one of the most prestigious tournaments in western Canada.
The WHL Cup is held every year to showcase potential future players of the Western Hockey League, pinning province against province for the covenant title.
For 2023, BC Hockey selected forwards Ty Bonkwowski and Kai Anderson of Burnaby Winter Club for its male under-16 roster after proving their skills during the organization's program of excellence camp.
The 15-year-olds are hoping to turn the heads of WHL scouts and coaches in Red Deer, Alta., next month in addition to possibly winning the five-day event.
Bonkowski led the BWC Academy's U15 Prep team last season with 32 points in 27 games, including a team-high 23 assists.
Originally from Richmond, he also recorded 48 points in 29 games with BWC's U15 varsity team and will suit up in the 2023-24 campaign with the U18 squad.
Bonkowski is also property of the Kamloops Blazers after the reigning Memorial Cup hosts picked him in the sixth round, 130th overall at the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft.
Anderson, of North Vancouver, is entering his third season with Burnaby Winter Club after earning a promotion to its Gold U17 team.
Last year, he led the U15 Prep squad with 13 goals, tallying 26 points and 27 regular-season games before adding three more in the playoffs.
Anderson's talents caught wind of the Vancouver Giants at the WHL Bantam Draft, selecting him the forward in the sixth round, 117th overall.
Bonkowski and Anderson were two of 20 players chosen to don the blue and white for B.C. at the WHL Cup.
"It was a difficult process getting the roster down to just 20 players since there is so much talent throughout B.C. and Yukon," Commissioner of BC Hockey's Program of Excellence Fred Zweep said in a release.
"We are excited to see this group of players compete in Red Deer at the WHL Cup and continue their hockey development."
The WHL Cup is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 17 to 22.
