Carter Zeeben, a 16-year-old from Saanich, has earned a spot on the 2023 Team Canada U16 West ball hockey roster.
The team will represent Canada’s Western Provinces at the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) Junior World Championships in Liberec, Czechia, June 28-July 2, 2023.
Canada West plays U16 teams from Slovakia, Great Britain and Czechia White in pool play, June 28-30. The results will determine playoff positioning on July 1, against teams from a pool that includes Canada East, U.S.A., Switzerland and Czechia Red. The Gold Medal and Bronze Medal games are scheduled for July 2 at Home Credit Arena and Svijanska Arena, respectively.
Canada West last won the U16 tournament in 2019, with a team that included Greater Victoria’s Jack Westhaver as well as NHL Dallas Stars’ draft pick Connor Roulette.Zeeben also plays in the Greater Victoria Minor Ball Hockey Association.
Players are selected for the program at regional and national events. Zeeben was part of a Greater Victoria team at the 2022 Western Challenge Cup in Surrey. He then earned a roster spot on Team BC, which finished second at the 2022 Junior Nationals in Winnipeg. At that tournament, Zeeben was named most valuable forward in the country.
As with many high-level ball hockey players, Zeeben is also accomplished on the ice. Last season, he led the South Island Royals U17 team in goals scored.
