The 2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games are gearing up for the week of Feb 16th to 22nd in Prince Albert and local hockey player Hayden Cutler (13) of Arcola has successfully made the District One team.
The Saskatchewan Games intend to foster champions and instill a sense of pride in the athletes, while helping to create lifelong friendships as young athletes are given a highly competitive atmosphere to excel in.
District One covers the area from Estevan to Radville over to White City and down to Carnduff. With only 20 making the team out of 52, Cutler has marked off a large accomplishment within the world of Saskatchewan hockey with dreams of continuing to move forward.
Out of all the districts it was District One that saw the most youth tryout for the team. Most other districts only saw around 30 youth attend.
Having tried out during the weekend of Dec. 13th, Cutler was unsure of himself. He knew that he had to work hard, but was his best efforts good enough? As it turned out, they were.
"It was shocking," Cutler stated. "I wasn't sure if I was going to make it or not, but I was happy."
"I was proud of myself for making it, I pushed myself hard to make the team. I didn't think I was, but I kept my hopes up."
Though there will be no practices during the regular season for the Saskatchewan Winter Games the young team will have an opportunity to practice together in Prince Albert. Cutler has played with seven others who have made the team which will be beneficial once District One steps on the ice as they will know each other's movements and how they play already.
With the best young players from across Saskatchewan competing against each other Cutler is looking forward to getting on the ice to play in such a battle.
"I want to see how it goes," Cutler explained. "It's going to be pretty intense. There's going to be a lot of physical contact and that's my kind of game; I like to be physical. It's going to be fast, really fast."
Cutler's achievements in hockey first began as he was put on the ice at a young age. Encouraged by his family when he was three or four years old, he has continually been working towards bettering himself on the ice.
"I think my dad kind of pushed me into," Cutler said.
The aggressive, high intensity sport is something Cutler has grown to thoroughly enjoy and is thankful that his father pushed him. Cutler now says hockey is not only his favourite sport but his favourite thing to do.
"I like how it flows; I like the intensity of it," Cutler explained. "It makes you kind of notice the game more, recognize it, read the plays."
Currently playing the regular season out of Estevan he plays for the TS&M "AA" Bantam Bruins. Practicing twice a week and involved in games every weekend, Cutler works hard and proves himself continually on the ice.
Though unsure how far he will go Cutler smiled as he answered what his ultimate dream would be.
"I'll try to go as far as I can," he said. "The NHL would be it, but if I make the WHL that'd be good enough for me. I'd say I did a job well done if I made it there."
Thus the humble young athlete has big dreams and with such a love of the sport will do his utmost to achieve what he can on the ice, with the Saskatchewan Winter Games hopefully being a stepping stone into the future.
