Eight games over four days, that's what's in store for Mosaic Place with the Western Canada Under-16 Challenge Cup taking over on Thursday afternoon.

With the best junior prospects hitting the ice with Team BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to decide the best in the west.

Team Saskatchewan will have plenty of hometown connections with Warriors draft picks Miles Warkentine and Josh Uhrich, as well as the Generals' Grant Naherniak and Rhett Gardner.

Naherniak, a first year goalie with the Moose Jaw Midget AAA squad, says making this team was a big confidence boost, "It felt pretty good, it felt like a goal was accomplished and I'm just really happy I made it.  Should be fun."

In five starts so far this season, Naherniak is 3-1-1-0 with a 2.76 goals against average and a .865 save percentage.  He says he knows there will be pressure on the home team to perform, "Since we're hosting, we should be doing good in it.  I think we have a lot of high expectations of doing good."

Team Saskatchewan opens the tournament against Team BC on Thursday night at 7pm.  Alberta and Manitoba will kick things off at 3pm on Thursday at Mosaic Place.

Pick up your tickets by calling the Mosaic Place Box Office at 624-2050 or click here.

Marc Smith talked with Generals' goalie Grant Naherniak about making Team Saskatchewan.

More On The Challenge Cup:
Uhrich Gearing Up For Under-16s
Gardner Ready To Shine At Home
Warkentine Named To Team Sask