When Liam Chartrand hits the ice, he has a few things on his mind that he wants to accomplish with each shift.
First of all, he wants to help his team win. The second thing he wants to accomplish is making his mother, father, and entire family proud of him. It's what pushes Liam every single day to compete to the best of his abilities and it's his ability on the ice among so many other things that has certainly made his entire family extremely proud of the young man.
From Winnipegosis, Liam has spent the past two seasons playing in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League with Pilot Mound Academy U15 Prep Team. Based just less than four hours from his home, Chartrand has put together two excellent seasons with the team.
In 26 regular season games last year, Liam scored 11 times while adding nine assists and then he scored another goal while adding one assist in three playoff games. Returning to Pilot Mound this year, the Winnipegosis native took his game to the next level. Chartrand had 34 points -- 15 of which were goals in the regular season -- and then in just four playoff games, Liam scored six times and had 14 points. Liam also had the chance to play up with the U17 team and immediate success followed with eight points in five games.
Liam is averaging well more than a point per game and he's very happy where he is.
"I wouldn't be able to do what I am doing without my linemates and every teammate," said Chartrand. "I just try to play the game I play and what I have been doing has worked. It felt very good to achieve what I did this season, I'm very happy with how things went."
Forrest Karlson of Dauphin was also on the team and the two have played together in the past as well.
"It was great having Forrest on the team, it was nice to see a familiar face at the rink everyday," offered Chartrand.
In his rookie year with Pilot Mound, Forrest put together an excellent campaign with seven goals and eight assists in 24 games. He then had two more points in four playoff games.
Thanks to his outstanding success with Pilot Mound, Liam was invited to Phase One of Hockey Manitoba's Program of Excellence U16 Camp. It also included Hayden Shtykalo of Dauphin and more than 100 players were invited.
"It felt pretty awesome just to get the invitation," said Chartrand. "I was very proud of myself that I got the invite."
While 60+ athletes did not receive an invitation to Phase Two which includes the Top 40, Chartrand did. Liam will head to Brandon and the J & G Homes Arena for the Top 40 Camp from May 11 to 14. From these camps, Hockey Manitoba will ultimately name its final U16 roster that will represent Manitoba at the 2023 WHL Cup in October in Alberta.
Chartrand knows the competition will be extremely tough, but he is looking forward to the challenge and he believes he is ready for it.
"It feels amazing, every guy that is going to the Top 40 is extremely skilled," offered Chartrand. "I just want to play my game and put everything I have into every second I am on the ice. I really believe that everything I have done this past year has seperated me from some players and I hope that they're going to notice that, I'm excited to take part in it."
Liam is always looking to make his family proud and like everything he works towards, he has certainly made his entire family extremely proud ahead of the Top 40 Camp.
