Mr. Speaker, today I want

to share with Members the successes of a young group of talented athletes: the Yellowknife Bantam Wolfpack hockey team. ---Applause These young 13 and 14-year-old athletes have accomplished some very significant results for sport in the North, results that we should all be proud of. During this past season the team captured an amazing six tournament titles and in doing so, they captured two consecutive Alberta tournaments during the Christmas break. They won the Northern Bantam AA Challenge hosted by Whitehorse and the A Team Lloydminster Invitational Tournament. Locally these boys also won the midget tournament, playing against athletes up to four years older than themselves, and they finished second in the men’s Easter tournament, and along the way defeated the honourable Premier’s team. I am sure Premier Roland can confirm to the speed and skills of these boys. The determination of this team to be the best and play the best was displayed when the team hosted

the Arctic Showdown, which included top teams from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. In this tournament the team went undefeated in the round robin and defeated Canada’s number one and most historical hockey school, Notre Dame. ---Applause Unfortunately, the team lost to the Hounds in the most exciting final game. Last week the team competed in a major California tournament. Parents of the opposing San Diego team were so impressed they sent along compliments. I’d like to read an excerpt from one of the compliments received. “I have watched my son play many teams over the past seven years. Some very classy and some not very classy teams. However, the Yellowknife team was the classiest team I have ever seen. They had class on and off the ice. Their kindness was refreshing and heart-warming.” The Wolfpack team has an amazing record of nearly 50 wins and only three losses in regulation time. However, it is the dedication, team play, and sportsmanship that these young men have brought to the game that I am so proud to share. As one Yellowknife fan was quoted as saying in the local newspaper, “every Bantam Wolfpack player is my hero.” I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement. ---Unanimous consent granted.