The annual Diamond Energy Female Midget AAA Wildcats' preseason tournament has arrived. Run in conjunction with the tournament, it's also the U16 Female Team Sask showcase.

Terry Pavely, who serves as head coach of both the Wildcats and U16 Team Sask, said the tournament, for the players on Team Sask, serves as a chance to continue the development of hockey in the province.

"They were all picked for a reason. We talked to them about what their strengths are, and play to their strengths," said Pavely on the coaching staff's message to the team ahead of the showcase.

"Really, the bottom line for us is we're trying to prepare these kids for the U18 program someday, and hope they can be a part of it," he said. "For us, it's about practice habits, details, learning how to adjust in-game. We just want to give these kids an opportunity to someday be part of the U18 program, and hopefully build our U18 program a little bit stronger."

Two players with ties to the southwest grace the U16 provincial team roster this season.

Sadie Keller

The Gull Lake product will be among 12 forwards on Team Sask, and said being selected kind of caught her off guard.

"It was kind of exciting being named to this - I wasn't expecting it, since I just played house this season," Keller said. "There's a lot of good girls that came to play from all over Saskatchewan. It's a big surprise to be on the team."

Keller played last season with the Swift Current Bantam A Colts, where she was not stranger to the stat sheet.

The 2005-born prospect posted 26 goals and 45 points in 22 games in the regular season, adding four goals and six points in three playoff games.

Despite the shock of being named to Team Sask, Keller said she felt she showcased her strengths well at tryouts.

"My speed is definitely one of my strengths - how fast I can get to the puck. I feel I'm a heads-up player, and I can make some nice passes."

That was definitely the case, according to Pavely, who noted that Keller checked several more boxes as well.

"She's a very offensive kid - got a really good shot, smart player, sees the ice well. Offence right now is probably her biggest attribute," said Pavely. "Just a very skilled kid - I know in the short time with Team Sask, a very coachable kid. She's a kid we're looking forward to having down the road in a Wildcats jersey."

Pavely said that part of Keller's growth as a player will be needing to round out the defensive side of her game.

Keller noticed another area she'd love to improve to continue adding these sorts of accolades to her hockey career.

"I feel like I need to get better with my hands - I've practiced it a lot, but it just is probably my weakness. Just practice a lot and work on my hands, score more goals I guess."

With three games to impress coaches and scouts alike in Swift Current this weekend, Keller said she'll be looking to leave it all out on the ice.

"I want to play my best, try my hardest - hopefully the scouts will notice me. Hopefully play a higher level of hockey - make it to university."

After the tournament winds down, Keller will be hoping to make the Swift Current Bantam AA Wildcats squad, and continue her growth.

"Getting used to the speed of hockey, getting stronger, and better throughout the season. Hopefully playing AAA the next year - being able to play AAA right off the bat."

Shelby Rublee

The lone Wildcat on the Team Sask roster this time around, defenceman Shelby Rublee continues to trend upward.

"It's pretty exciting. Not very many people get this opportunity, and it's pretty awesome to be able to put on the jersey and represent the province," she said.

As a second-year Bantam-aged player, the Kindersley product played the entire 2018-19 campaign with the Wildcats, recording three points in 28 games.

"I became more confident, more aggressive in my game," said Rublee, of her exposure to a higher level of hockey. "Just built as a better defenceman, team player, and I think even as a person - being on a new team with new people, and getting an opportunity like this."

Her patience and maturity on the blueline was evident at Team Sask tryouts, and made it somewhat of an easy call to select her to the squad, according to Pavely.

"When we had the camps at the end of last year for Team Sask, you could just tell the confidence she had playing a year of AAA Midget," he said. "Very composed with the puck, very heady without the puck, good defensively. That's what we want in defencemen. We want kids that play with some composure."

The composure was met with equal parts determination for Rublee, in what is a pretty textbook example of perseverance.

"Just one of those things where she kind of started out in probably a sixth defenceman role - even at times seventh last year - but, just stuck to the process," said Pavely. "Then you could just tell the confidence she had. She had a really solid weekend, and earned a spot in the top six in the province."

Now, moving onto Team Sask and into her sophomore season with Swift Current, a larger workload is forecast for the defender.

"I think just playing more offensively - taking my defensive game into a little bit more offence - just stepping up, trying some new things once in a while," she said.

"We've got a deep defensive core right now," added Pavely. "We've got five vets and one real solid rookie player. We're really excited about where our D core is. She's going to be a big part of that - she's going to be leaned on at times to play on the powerplay now, maybe against some of the other teams' top lines. Just as you go through the process year-to-year, it's a little bit more responsibility."

Rublee said the experience of playing with the rest of the best U16 talent in the province is one she'll look to draw on this coming campaign, and beyond.

"I'm really excited to be able to play in Swift. I've got lots of family coming, lots of friends. Just playing in the Wildcats' home rink, representing Sask is exciting. I think now being a part of U16 Team Sask, I can take this opportunity and bring it to the Wildcats and for the future as well."

Keller, Rublee, and U16 Team Sask open their three-game schedule tonight at 8:15 p.m., when they take on U16 Team Manitoba at Fairview West.

Game 2 runs 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, when they play the Pilot Mound Buffaloes.

Their tourney wraps up Sunday at 11:15 a.m. with a contest against the Pembina Valley Hawks.

As for the host Wildcats, they open their preseason tournament at 6 p.m. on Friday against Pembina Valley.

Their final two tilts run Saturday at 6 p.m. against U16 Team Manitoba, and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. against Pilot Mound.