A trio of South Cariboo hockey players is busy preparing physically and mentally for their biggest tournament of the season.
Cassidy Mellott, Breanna Uphill and Adrianna Johnson have qualified to play on the North Zone team at the Female U16 BC Cup in 100 Mile House. Qualification came for them at the zone tryouts in Mackenzie in January.
The high performance hockey players play for the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association Female Bantam AAA Mystixs and that's where they'll be getting the bulk of their on-ice training for the tournament.
Mellott, 13, has been playing hockey since she was five years old and in the Initiation division. The centre says she gave it 110 per cent at the tryouts and somehow knew she would make the team.
"This was a goal of mine that I set when I did my first U14 camp. It feels great - the accomplishment."
On getting her game plan together, Mellott says she's organized.
"Eating healthy will be a big part of it. You also have to think about what you're going to do and how you are going to improve yourself to be as good as you can be."
Uphill is a right winger who has been chasing a puck for five years, after getting her basic skating skills down pat with the 100 Mile Figure Skating Club.
She says there's nothing better than playing hockey.
"It’s so much fun. When you get a goal, the feeling is awesome. Skating and making plays is great, too."
She found out two years ago about the U16 Cup and immediately wanted to be a part of it.
"Next, I want to make the U18 team. It's really hard, and if I did, I would be really proud."
To keep her skills sharp, Uphill says she'll be shooting balls into a net in her basement during her spare time.
For Johnson, a left winger, this will actually be the second trip to the BC Cup. She made the team last time around, so knows what to expect.
"It's really cool to play other kids from all over B.C. and see what other talent is out there and what you have to do to compete."
Johnson says she feels the 2011 North Zone team is more skilled than the last one she played on.
"We had more people try out this time and I think that girls' hockey in general is improving."
Johnson played on mixed boys and girls teams until last year when she hooked up with the Prince George Cougars Bantam AAA girls’ squad.
She's not sure where hockey will eventually take her, but she's got her hopes.
"I would love to make it to the Olympics. I think that's everyone's goal."
The U16 BC Cup will take place at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre from March 31 to April 3, with six zone teams representing all areas of British Columbia.