Four Strathmore inline boys qualify for Canada West Cup

Times Reporter  

 

Wheatland Inline Hockey Association will be well represented at the Canada West Inline Cup this year, with Koadi Kozma, Tate Barnett, Matt Holkovic, and Christopher Rebeyka being named to the Alberta squad. British Columbia and Saskatchewan also gather their best 13 to 15-year-old inline hockey players to face off in the tournament; however Alberta is the only province that has enough talent for two teams. 

The Canada West Cup takes place opposite years of the Alberta Summer Games, which Barnett and Kozma both took place in last year.

Kozma, a goalie, idolizes Tim Thomas and hopes to make the NHL one day. He’s been playing inline hockey for four years. 

“The guys in the tryouts were really good, and fun to play with, so I’m really excited,” centre Tate Barnett said. 

Matt Holkovic, who plays forward and defense, said he felt fairly confident in himself and his teammates, as Alberta has won the tournament quite frequently.

“I’ve played ice hockey pretty much all my life I guess, and then this is my first year of inline,” said Rebeyka, a forward and defenseman as well. “It’s just fun. You can go to big tournaments, like the one we’re going to, which is pretty cool.”

Alberta chose approximately 12 players for each team, including two goalies. The Canada West Cup takes place July 4 to 7, in Sherwood Park.