NorthWest Stars standouts pictured L-R: Kash Alger-East, Millar Kramer, and Lukamus Lehman. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Next round of tryouts

NorthWest Stars see trio named to Sask First Top 80 Tournament

Jan 12, 2023 | 5:00 AM

Three members of the U15 AA NorthWest Stars have been recognized among the best in their age group in the province and will advance to the Sask First Top 80 Tournament, next month.

For Kash Alger-East, Lukamus Lehman, and Millar Kramer, the Top 80 tournament will be the third round of tryouts for a spot at Saskatchewan’s upcoming summer camp.

After advancing from the Regional Camp in early December to the Top 160 Tournament just prior to New Years in Regina, the three now wait just over a month’s time for their next hurdle, as the Top-80 Tournament will take place in Balgonie Feb 17-19.

Alger-East, a 14-year-old from Meadow Lake, leads the NorthWest Stars in scoring this season, and sits sixth overall in the Sask U15 AA League, with 23 goals and 46 points in just 15 games played.

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Red-hot from the opening month of the season, the veteran and NorthWest Stars captain has played some of his best hockey of late, coming off a five-point game (two goals, three assists) Sunday in a 7-5 win over Moose Jaw.

Lehman sits second in team scoring with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 17 games, having proven himself as a force at both ends of the ice from the blue-line position this year. The 14-year-old North Battleford product said going through the first couple of rounds of tryouts to make it to the Top 80 has been a great experience so far.

“It’s been a good, fun camp and it’s put together really well, so I’m just glad to be still going forward in it,” Lehman said. “It was a pretty big goal of mine to go [to the camp] and to make the Top 80, so I’m happy to make it this far and now I’m just hoping to just keep moving forward, so I’m going into this next camp to keep giving it my all.”

Kramer, a 14-year-old from Battleford, sits second in defenseman scoring and tied for fourth overall on the team with 13 points (three goals, 10 points) in 16 games. He said with more responsibility this year, now in his second year of U15, the experience has helped his development in working towards a goal he too set out for.

“I’m getting more confident this year as a second-year, rushing the puck and just getting relied on more on the power play and penalty kill, which has really helped,” Kramer said.

“It’s been a goal of mine since last year in my first year Bantam to make the [Sask First] team and I’ve been excited since last year and working towards it. So I’m proud of getting to the next round and it’s been a good experience at the tryouts.”

Kim Kramer, who coaches all three with the U15 NorthWest Stars, said it’s been great to see each of the players recognized for their hard work and continued development this year.

“They all had good showings at both the regional camp and the Top 160 Sask First camp, and all three of those boys have been in the AA program for two years of U13 and now are in their second year of U15,” Kramer said. “So it’s been nice to see them come through the local [hockey] system and as their development has progressed, to see them get recognized.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1