Calgary Royals U15 AA White ready for showdown against Team Croatia

The Calgary Royals U15 AA White was lucky enough to be selected to play an exhibition game against Team Croatia on Sunday afternoon.

The Calgary Royals U15 AA White was busy at practice on Thursday night at the Southland Leisure Centre.

Royals White was lucky enough to be selected to play an exhibition game against Team Croatia on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Stew Hendry Arena.

For some, like defenceman Angus Shanks, it’s not the first international experience.

“I was pretty excited,” said the 14-year-old.

“I don’t know much about them. I’ve played a U13 team from Czechia, so that was fun.

“I’ve played some international teams but not really too many, so I was pretty excited.”

Getting prepared for a team like Croatia isn’t easy.

Royals White knows very little about them.

Thirteen-year-old forward Owen Charlebois says he’s interested to see what it will be like.

“A different style of hockey,” he said.

“I don’t know much about this team, but I know it will be different from what we usually play.”

Fourteen-year-old forward Levi Yarker is hoping he can learn a thing or two from playing Croatia.

“I kind of like to see different competition and different styles of players that they have over there,” he said.

It hasn’t been an easy season for Royals White.

They’re in ninth place in the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s Calgary Division, but they’ve won four in a row.

Goaltending coach Brady Newton says hopefully his team can keep that going against the Croatians.

“I just think we’ve got to stick to our game plan. I think what we’ve been doing lately, we’re confident in how we play,” he said.

“But we may have to make adjustments on the fly and not just stick to what we’re doing if it isn’t working.”

Sunday’s game is at 2 p.m. at the Stew Hendry Arena.