Joe McWilliams

Lakeside Leader

A couple of young Slave Lake hockey players had the experience of a lifetime earlier this month. Kade Morrison-Cardinal and Noah Eben played in a tournament in Europe, called the Finland Lions Cup.

Travis Eben, Noah’s dad, also took part, as a coach for the Chicago-based U13 ‘CCM Selects 200×85’ team and was involved in the selection of the players, he says.

The two boys are well known locally, as standout members of the U13 Thunder – Eben in goal and Morrison-Cardinal on defence. Playing at the AAA level at the tournament in Finland, though, was “unlike anything we typically see at this age in Alberta,” Travis says.

The team did well, too, finishing third out of 16 teams.

It’s the first time, Travis says, that a ‘western’ (i.e. North American) team has won a medal at the tournament.

“It was a phenomenal experience for the boys,” he says, “giving them the chance to compete internationally and experience the fast-paced European style of play.”

Kade and Noah are now in the midst of a spring hockey season, with the U13 Slave Lake Cyclones.