The Southwest Jets AA (Bantam) hockey club is comprised of 13–14-year-old players from the southwest part of Manitoba’s Eastman region. The communities involved are Niverville, St. Adolphe, Ste. Agathe, St. Pierre, St. Malo, Grunthal, Dominion City, Vita, and as far south as Emerson.
The team is structured for those looking to develop their hockey skills to a high level. Players are selected through a tryout process and the team plays against other Bantam AA teams including the Winkler Flyers, Seine River Snipers, Interlake Lightning, Central Plains Capitals, Southeast Blizzard, Northern Knights, Pembina West Rockets, Kenora Thistles, and PV East Twisters.
“I approach this year with different goals as previous years because of the overwhelming amount of 13 year-olds compared to 14 year-olds,” says head coach David Maynard. “For most people, winning is their primary measurement of success, but for me effort level and willingness to play the right way are more important. Teaching these kids that teamwork will always get you further than being an individual is my focus for this year and every year. Sounds simple, but it can be and was much more difficult in previous years. This year, the group has bought in rather early to the team concept, which makes it a lot easier as a coaching staff. This team made me proud of their compete level because I was expecting struggles, at least in the beginning of the year. The fact that we’ve gone .500 over the first four games is a pleasant surprise.”
The team has nine home and away games and will participate in two tournaments this season, in Garson, Manitoba and Grand Forks, North Dakota.
