CALGARY — A former member of the Estevan U18 AAA Bears will represent his country at an upcoming international tournament.
Hockey Canada announced on Nov. 25 that defenceman Thomas Ries, who is currently playing for the Yorkton Terriers of the SJHL, was selected to play for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge, set for Dec. 7-13 in Trois-Rivières, Que. He is one of six SJHL players selected for the tournament.
Ries, 19, hails from Humboldt and has posted six goals and 21 points in 21 games for the Terriers so far this season. Between 87 regular and post-season SJHL contests, the defender has 56 points, all for Yorkton.
Ries spent two seasons playing in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League with Estevan. In his second season with the Bears in 2023-24, he recorded 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points in 43 games, was named to the league’s first all-star team and helped the Bears make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Other SJHL players selected for Team Canada West were goaltender Taye Timmerman (Warman Wolverines), defencemen Jaxon Herchak (Kindersley Klippers) and Tao Flory (Melfort Mustangs), and forwards Rylan Hue (Humboldt Broncos) and Wyatt Stinton (Flin Flon Bombers).
