Yellowknife co-ed youth hockey team off to Europe

Ethan Anstey admits he's running on adrenaline right now.

"It's hard to sleep when you know you're going to Europe for three weeks," says the 13-year-old.

Anstey and his teammates leave Saturday,headed to an elite hockey tournament in theCzech Republic.The co-ed bantam team are part of Yellowknife's Polar United Club for Kids PUCK for short.

It's an opportunitythey've earned, says their coach DanSchofield.

"I'm proud of this particular group of kids because they've worked hard for this," he said.

"They'vefundraisedfor about two years now. There's no sponsors. The kids and their parents did this."

PUCK isfor youthlike Anstey who can't get of enough hockey, beyond their minor league ice time.He's involved in AAAhockey from August until April and forthe rest of the year, PUCKhelps him fill the void.

This a once in a lifetime experience, not just the hockey part, butsome of these tours and all of these countries we will see.- Anna MacCara

"It's really fun. Last year I started playing (with) the pee wee development team and I was also playing with the bantam development team."

Anna-LieseKing, 13, says she and her teammates have been working hard all summer doing dry land training.

"We've had fitness for the past two months or so three times a week. We've been doing sprints andcardio... strengthening and lots of [hockey]camps," she said.

The hockey tournament will be the first international competition that Anstey, King and theirteammates will compete in andthe third time PUCK hassenta team to Europe.

They will get in some Europeanpractice before the tournament begins on Aug.6,playing exhibition games inIceland, Slovakia, Italy, Hungary and Austria.

The teenagers spent the summer doing research on some of the places they will betravelling to. Their coach says the group did PowerPoint presentations to teammates and parents.

Anna MacCara, 14, was one of the first to show off her research.

"I did mine on Salzburg, Austria. I'm anxious to see the house of Mozart," she said.

"Words can't explain how I am feeling.This a once in a lifetime experience, not just the hockey part, butsome of these tours and all of these countries we will see."

The group of 49 people 18players, threegoalies, coaches and some parents fly to Iceland from Edmonton on Saturday. They return to Canada on Aug.14.