.png;w=796)
Fifteen-year-old Wyatt Callander knew this summer his hockey career was taking off when he found out he was on the protected player list of the Vancouver Giants.
After going unselected in the Western Hockey League’s Prospects Draft in May, becoming Giants’ property early in September built his confidence that he’s on a track to pro hockey similar to the one taken by his Prince George cousin, Nico Myatovic, when he made his mark in the WHL as a league champion two seasons ago with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
A few weeks ago, Callander found out he’s one of a select group of 20 players born in 2009 who have been picked for Team BC in the WHL Cup tournament next week in Red Deer, Alta.
“To me it’s just a massive achievement,” said Callendar. “I wasn’t drafted and it’s definitely harder to make a team, but I just worked hard and happened to make it.
“We had a couple different tryouts for it and our last one was in Chilliwack in July and I had a really good camp there and was put on a short list. So when I got put on that I thought I had a good chance to make it.”
Listed as a six-foot, 165 pound forward, Callander has three goals and seven assists in nine games this season with Delta Academy U17 Prep. He’s coming off a nine-goal, 31-point season last year with the Delta U15s.
Callander’s weekdays start early and he’s out the door of his billet home at 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus to the rink. The Delta team has its gym workout and then is on the ice for the first of two daily practices and then he’ll have lunch and go to his Grade 10 classes at North Delta Secondary School.
Two of his Delta U17 teammates – forwards Matthew DI Stefano and Jack Morgan also made the grade for Team BC, as did U18 team members forward Alex Laing and defenceman Jacob Schwartz, picked eighth overall by the Victoria Royals in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.
Callendar says he’s excited about Delta team’s playoff prospects and figures they are among the best in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League U17 Prep league.
Myatovic, who turns 20 in December, is a rookie forward in the American Hockey League with the San Diego Gulls, the top farm team of the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks drafted him in the second round, 33rd overall in 2023, just a month after he won the Ed Chynoweth Cup with Seattle.
“He’s my cousin from Prince George and I’ve looked up to him in lots of ways,” said Callander. “I saw him a few times this summer at family events. He works out at the same gym as I do (AP Athletics).”
Callander last played in his Prince George hometown two seasons ago with the Cariboo Cougars U15 team.
He and the rest of Team BC will fly to Red Deer on Sunday and will have a couple days of practice to get ready for Wednesday’s opening game against Manitoba (3:15 p.m.).
BC also plays Saskatchewan on Thursday (3:15 p.m. PT), and Alberta on Friday (12:15 p.m. PT). Playoffs are set for Saturday, with the medal games on Sunday.
The WHL Cup is held annually except in years in which the Canada Winter Games tournament happens.
The son of Kim and Felicia Callander knows the tournament will be heavily scouted by NHL teams.
“It’s a good opportunity to show what I can do,” said Callander. “It’s always nice to know people are watching you.
“The players going to it representing other provinces are the obviously the best of their province and I’m just excited about competing against the best players in Western Canada. It’s going to be a challenge but I like to face adversity.”
