Hockey forward Cameron Coutre has a bright future, no matter what rink he is on.
The Langford 15-year old recently returned from a national hockey competition in Calgary with a silver medal.
Through a series of tryouts held across the province he was one of 12 forwards selected from hundreds to be on the 20-player U16 Team B.C.
Provincial teams from across the country met in Calgary from Nov. 7 to 10 for the tournament.
B.C. fared well in round robin play, beating Manitoba and Saskatchewan. They lost 3-2 to Alberta and squared off again during the gold medal game.
While B.C. lost the second bout 4-2, Coutre notched assists on both goals.
“I was a little disappointed with a silver. The Alberta team was pretty stacked,” he said. “It was an honour to represent B.C.”
Clubs in Seattle and Cowichan are also showing interest in the first year player with the South Island Royals major midget team. He’s already been drafted by the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.
“He is listed with them and his rights are protected in the league,” said his father Ron Coutre, adding that most players join the Western Hockey League around 17.
Coutre is also an affiliated player with the Cowichan Valley Capitals in the B.C. Hockey League, meaning he’s invited to practise with the team and could be asked to play in games.
“Playing with the Capitals will really help improve my game,” he said. “They are bigger, faster and stronger than me.”
Coutre, who played a decade with Juan de Fuca minor hockey, is successful off of the ice as well. The Grade 10 Belmont student hopes to earn a scholarship for post-secondary education.