By Nick Sebesta

Lining up for try-outs in Family Sports Center in Centennial, Colorado in late March, youth hockey players were getting ready for an opportunity that could change their lives.

The try-outs were for Team Colorado, a team put together to go compete in the Chicago Showcase this April, to display some of the best hockey talent in Colorado.

The Chicago Showcase which is held every year, this year for the 25th time, takes residence in the Chicago suburb of Bensenville, Ill. The tournament set up for college and junior hockey scouts to come and observe players they might otherwise have a chance to see play.

A great opportunity to maybe impress some scouts is motivation enough for over 50 seventeen to eighteen year olds to try and make the team.

“The teams that come to the tournament are composed of the players who are not typically scouted by colleges, junior teams,” said Brenda Rawal, who is Team Colorado’s manager. Team Colorado narrowed their team down over the past few weeks to compose the final team, which is competing this month.

As many as 16 players showed up to fight for the two goalie spots, as well as over 50 who showed up for the rest of the positions.

“We had everything from Tier 1 Midget goalies to CHSSA goalies,” said Rawal. “The goalie talent was good overall.”
A very positive thing for the team though was many areas of Colorado were represented on the team, from high school leagues, to players who range from mountain towns in the state as well. Hockey has grown enough in Colorado that the talent pool is growing rapidly for Team Colorado.

After information went around to the different teams in mid-January of the year, the selections took place, and Coach Angelo Ricci was able to make his team.

Ricci, regarded as one of the top coaches in Colorado, will take a team who is competing at the highest level in the tournament. The tournament consists of a three different pools, an “A”, “B”, and “C” pools which are then divided into separate subdivisions as well.

After division play, the teams then go to a bracket to then determine the winner of the tournament. Team Colorado initially started out in the “C” pool, but after progressing, has made its way to the “A” pool. The “A” pool contains the teams from high profile hockey states like Wisconsin and Minnesota.

“We’re up playing with the big boys really, like New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin. It’s kind of hard to tell the caliber of the other teams in this tournament, but I think we’ll hold on, we have a good mix of players,” said Rawal.

So for these young hockey players they will have the opportunity to put their skills to the test with some of the other big hockey states in the country. While they’re at it, maybe impress some scouts or most of all, just have some fun.

“We’re hoping to have a great trip for the boys,” said Rawal. “We’ll show them a bit of the Chicago area, and it’s something they’ve enjoyed in the years’ past. It’s really a good overall experience.”

Team Colorado 2009