Tristen Nielsen is continuing the tradition of a long line of excellent athletic prospects coming from the Edge School for Athletes, as he will be one of the seventeen players that will represent Team Canada at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics.
The Edge School Prep team forward – who plays in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) – was named to the roster, which will compete against Finland, Norway, Russia, and the United States at the event from Feb. 12-21 in Lillehammer, Norway.
The roster is made up of players born in 2000 and was chosen by Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel with support from regional scouts: Carl Bouchard (Quebec), Barclay Branch (Ontario), Wade Kilppenstein (West), Darrell Woodley, (Ontario), and Kevin Mitchell (Atlantic).
So far this season, the fifteen-year old Nielsen has recorded 17 points (ten goals, seven assists) in sixteen games with the Edge Prep team.
The Fort St. John, BC product was selected in the first round, 20th overall, by the Calgary Hitmen at the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft after scoring 25 points (18 goals, seven assists) in 18 games with the Edge Bantam Prep squad.
Also selected was former Delta Hockey Academy defenceman and CSSHL veteran Ty Smith.
The Lloydminster, AB product was named the CSSHL’s Bantam Prep Division MVP during the 2014-15 season after posting 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) in 16 games.
Smith, was drafted in the first round, first overall by the WHL’s, Spokane Chiefs, in 2015.
He has appeared in one game for the Chiefs this season, picking up two assists.
