Justin Almeida and Dorrin Luding can now circle Feb. 21-28 on their calendars.
That's because the pair of 15-year-olds will be suiting up in Team B.C. uniforms for the men's hockey tournament at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
Almeida, a forward, and Luding, a goaltender from the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League's Cariboo Cougars, found out earlier this week they'd had been selected for the male under-16 B.C. team.
It was news Almeida and Luding had been anxiously waiting for since a selection camp in July in Salmon Arm.
"It's stress off my shoulders," said Almeida. "Having home ice [for the 2015 Games], I'm sure the fans will come out and support us. The atmosphere will be really fun."
"I'm relieved, once I got the news I was really happy," added Luding. "They just basically told us [after the camp] to play hockey and stay mentally focused."
Both of them have helped guide the Cougars to a 17-2-1 record and first place in the BCHMML. They're five points ahead of the second-place Vancouver Northwest Giants.
Almeida, who was selected in the first round of the 2014 WHL bantam draft by the Prince George Cougars, has collected 12 goals and 13 assists.
Luding is a Saskatoon Blades prospect. He posted his first shutout of his BCMMHL career on Sunday against the Okanagan Rockets with a 3-0 victory.
Luding and his goaltending partner Griffen Outhouse are tied atop the BCMMHL netminder rankings, each with a 2.00 goals against average. In 10 games between the pipes so far this season, Luding has posted a record of 8-1-1.
They both point to a couple of things that've been key to the team's success this year.
"We've done a lot of hard work in practice and our coaches harp on that," said Almeida. "We also have great chemistry everywhere."
"With goalies, it's a little different," added Luding. "It's more mental. The stronger you are mentally, you're going to show it on the ice."
The Cougars take on the last-place Thompson Blazers (1-18-1) Saturday (7:15 p.m.) and Sunday (11:30 a.m.) at Kin 1.
Team B.C. will convene later this month for a camp for players to get to know one another.
Luding and Almeida follow in the footsteps of former Cariboo Cougars Brett Harris and Josh Connolly who helped Team B.C. win gold at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax.
