Cochrane hockey player Madison Deschamps has been selected to play for the South White team in the upcoming Alberta Challenge.

Six teams of elite Alberta players will be lacing up at the tournament being held May 5-8 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer.

Cochrane was one of two towns hosting regional selection camps.

"It like that the camp was in my hometown of Cochrane," says Deschamps. "It was a really fun experience and I was glad to have made the team."

Next season, she's looking forward to playing midget hockey at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C. She aspires to win an NCAA scholarship and one day play for Team Canada.

Deschamp has been passionate about the sport since age five. She played with boys in novice, atoms, and peewee before switching to girls hockey in bantam with the Olds U15AA Grizzlys.

She has also played spring hockey for several years and has just returned from Nashville, TN. where she played in the Cowgirl Shootout Rose tournament.  She is a member of the select team called the Alberta Warriors, which includes players from across the province, that went on to win the tournament.

Deschamps, who turned 15 earlier this month, played defense for the provincial champion U15AA Olds Grizzlys this past season.

Players identified for the Challenge are 2007 and 2008-born female athletes. It's part of the Team Alberta U16 path and an important step toward Team Alberta. Coaches, trainers, and directors of operations are also evaluated to continue in the U16 and U18 development paths.

South White opens its tournament against the North Grey on May 5.

This year’s Alberta Challenge is the first since 2019.