Plenty of top-end bantam players to watch this weekend in Hat

By Ryan McCracken on November 17, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

For the 46th consecutive year, Medicine Hat has welcomed some of western Canada’s top talent for the Hockey Hounds Major Bantam Hockey Tournament. As a result, dozens of scouts have descended on the Gas City to take notes on the next generation.

Here are a few faces to watch for as the tournament transitions to elimination play this weekend.

Connor Levis — No. 26, St. George’s School centre

Reigning champion St. George’s School has established itself as the team to beat after opening the weekend with a 12-1 blowout over Prince Albert and a 14-5 drubbing of Spruce Grove — and Connor Levis has been a driving force behind their success. The 2004-born centreman posted three assists in his first game of the tournament and has 34 points in just 13 Canadian Sport School Bantam Hockey League games this season. At 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, Levis boasts a WHL-ready frame with strong skating, high-end vision and dynamic skill with the puck.

Thomas Tien — No. 20, St. George’s School forward

Thomas Tien took the tournament by storm with six goals and an assist in Thursday’s opener, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. While the 2004-born forward is smaller than his teammate Levis, at 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, he boasts a hard-nosed work ethic and a high-energy style of play. That approach has allowed Tien to thrive in the early days of the tournament, as well as in the CSSBHL, where he has matched Levis’ 34-point effort with 16 goals and 18 helpers in 13 games.

Bodee Weiss — No. 1, South East Athletic Club Tigers goaltender

The SEAC Tigers enter the tournament with one of their strongest lineups in recent memory, and Bodee Weiss serves as the backbone. The big, athletic netminder helped his team to a 9-0 shutout victory over the Swift Current Broncos Saturday afternoon and has been a key factor in their recent success in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League. The 2004-born Hatter boasts a .915 save percentage and a 2.61 goals against average with a 3-2-2 record in league play this year.

Brayden Yager — No. 19, Martensville Marauders forward

Although Brayden Yager won’t be available until next season’s WHL bantam draft, the Martensville Marauders forward will still spend his weekend turning heads at the major junior level. With breakneck speed and a strong shot, Yager poses a scoring threat any time he occupies the offensive zone. In just nine Saskatchewan AA Hockey League games this season, the 5-foot-10, 155-pound righty has netted 10 goals while adding 15 assists, and he kicked off his tournament with three points in a 4-2 comeback win over the SEAC Tigers Thursday.

Riley Heidt — No. 4, Martensville Marauders forward

Like his teammate Yager, Riley Heidt won’t be eligible until next season’s WHL bantam draft, but he too has been pivotal to Martenville’s success in both the SAAHL and this weekend’s Hockey Hounds tournament. The 5-foot-7, 140-pound 13-year-old combines strong skating with an aggressive edge, and has been developing some serious chemistry alongside Yager as the only 2005-born players on Martensville’s roster. Heidt entered the tournament with eight goals and 14 in nine league contests and opened the weekend with three points in Thursday’s win over the Tigers.

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