WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsYouth hockey players show off their skills

Youth hockey players show off their skills

By Heather Sawaski

WAUSAU (WAOW) -- Central Wisconsin's first big youth hockey tournament is well underway. The Midwest Freeze brings more than 500 skaters from 40 teams to the Wausau area for a 4-day tournament. But some of the skaters took a break from team play Saturday, for a different type of friendly competition.

Skate, shoot, stop. The Midwest Freeze "Skills Challenge" lets young skaters show off their skills. 

"I did the fastest skater, the obstacle course, and the sharp shooter," said Wausau player Eli Glaser.

"The event basically allows them to have their show off time," explained organizer Greg Glovinski. "Outside their team and their team environment and their team building skills. They can showcase their individual talents."

In the first event, players picked up their sticks and skated as fast as they could around the rink. The next challenge, shoot as many pucks into the net as you can in 30 seconds. And after that, the obstacle course.

"We had to weave through 3 cones," said Wausau player Frankie Dovorany. "Go around a cone, jump over a divider, and go under 2 cones with a stick on top."

This event was a favorite for a lot of the young skaters.

"The diving under the stick because I like to roll on the ground because it gets your jersey full of snow! It's really fun," commented Glaser.

 Last, but certainly not least, something for the team goalies too.

"They shoot pucks at us and we have to stop them,"explained Rhinelander goalie Seth Stafford.

Prizes went to the top 3 finishers in each challenge.

The tournament continues Sunday, with more hockey games and also an expo at the Greenheck Fieldhouse.

Online Reporter: Heather Sawaski