Dryden Allen is eager to see how he stacks up against the best U16 players from across Canada.

The 15-year-old, Saint Michael Catholic High School student is the lone local player and one of five from the Ontario Minor Hockey Association selected to play for Team Ontario at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island.

“It’s an actual honour to be representing my team and province, for sure,” Allen said. “It’s really good hockey against the top players in the country. I think it will be something to match my game against them and it will be really cool to see where I stand.

“It will be something good to be recognized as one of the top players in the province.”

Allen, a defenceman for the Southern Tier Admirals, went to an evaluation camp last May to learn more about the process of getting selected.

“It seemed really far away back then,” he said. “It was kind of a dream and I thought it would be awesome. As the season started, it seemed to become more real, something that was more achievable.”

Allen got the good news he had made the final roster before Christmas.

“I got a call and offered a spot on the team. It was something I’ll never forget,” he said. 

Allen has two goals and 24 points in 34 games for the Admirals this season.

Click here to read the full article on BP Sports Niagara.

By Bill Potrecz