Burnaby, B.C. – A team with players from across the state of Alaska will make its debut at the 2014 Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational. Based in Anchorage, Team Alaska 14U (USA Hockey Tier 1) will play in a Canadian tournament for the first time. “Our players have been talking about this tournament over the last few months and their energy is infectious,” says Head Coach Levi Younger. “We know that our competition is extremely talented.”
Younger says the opportunity to come to B.C. for this tournament is something his team could not pass up. “We want to provide our players with exposure to a high level of play and the rich history of a place where hockey is so ingrained in the culture. Doing so at a tournament named after such an iconic and legendary coach as Pat Quinn is an added bonus for us.”
He knows the competition will be tough, but he says the boys from up north are ready for the challenge. “We want to be hard to play against the teams and leave them wondering what we put in the water up in Alaska. We have a talented group of players who are getting exposed to Tier 1 hockey outside the state for the first time.” Younger was born in Alaska and returned to the state after coaching in Washington, Oregon and Colorado. “I think every one of us feels a lot of pride representing Alaska because hockey is such an integral part of our culture. These kids are talented, they work hard, and they make a lot of sacrifices for hockey.”
Team Alaska 14U is one of 23 teams from the United States and Canada competing in the second edition of the U15 Elite Invitational.
The tournament runs from November 14 to 17 at venues in Burnaby, Delta and Coquitlam.
The schedule is available here.
The tournament features two flights of teams:
Flight 1 Teams
- Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- California Goldrush 14U AAA (USA Tier 1)
- Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep (Green) (Canadian Sport School Hockey League – CSSHL Prep)
- Little Caesars 14U Detroit (USA Tier 1)
- Northern Alberta Extreme (CSSHL Prep)
- St. Georges Hockey Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- Team Alaska 14U (USA Hockey Tier 1)
- Yale U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
Flight 2 Teams
- Cariboo Cougars BC Zone (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Couer D’Alene Hockey Academy (CSSHL Prep)
- Delta Hockey Academy U15 AAA (Black) (CSSHL Varsity)
- Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U15 AAA (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Greater Vancouver Canadians U15 AAA (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- North Shore Warriors Hockey Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- North West Hawks (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Okanagan Rockets (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Pacific Coast Hockey Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- San Jose Jr Sharks 14U AAA (USA Hockey Tier 1)
- Shawnigan Lake Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- Texas Tigers (USA AA)
- Valley West Giants (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Vancouver North East Chiefs (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Wenatchee Wild 14U
About the Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational
The Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational was created in 2023 as a standalone tournament. It builds on the legacy of the Pat Quinn Classic annual holiday season tournament. Hosted in Burnaby, Coquitlam and Delta from November 14 to 17, 2024, the U15 Elite Invitational promises a high-level hockey experience for players, coaches and fans.
Media Contact:
info@patquinnclassic.com
Photo Credit: Team Alaska 14U