X-Men hockey assistant coach Erin King has been named an assistant coach for Hockey Nova Scotia’s U-16 boys team for the upcoming QMJHL Excellence Challenge. King recently completed his second full season as the full-time assistant coach with the X-Men.

"I am thrilled to be a part of the process for these young, elite hockey players," comments King. "It is an experience these players won't soon forget, and I'm looking forward to helping them be at their best when playing on such a big stage in front of QMJHL scouts and general managers. Many long, successful careers in hockey are blossomed from scouting combines like this."

A native of Bedford, NS, King was also the past coach of the Halifax Major Bantam hockey club who were NSMBHL provincial champions and Atlantic Canada bronze medalists. He was He was the head coach of the 2010 Atlantic Challenge Cup gold medalist Under 14 squad. The 2011 Sport Nova Scotia Hockey Coach of the Year, King has been a Hockey Nova Scotia high performance staff member since 2007.

The complete release form Hockey Nova Scotia follows below.

HNS Names U16 Team for QMJHL Excellence Challenge
TWENTY NOVA SCOTIA HOCKEY PLAYERS NAMED TO PROVINCIAL U-16 TEAM

(Dartmouth) Hockey Nova Scotia will be well-represented when the puck is dropped on the inaugural 2013 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Excellence Challenge in Quebec this May.

This week, Hockey Nova Scotia announced the twenty young players who will be playing for the province when the QMJHL Excellence Challenge kicks off May 2nd in Blainville-Boisbriand, Quebec. Team Nova Scotia will be facing off against teams from Hockey New Brunswick, Hockey Newfoundland, Hockey PEI as well as two teams representing Hockey Quebec.

“Picking this team is a long, tough process,” said Bill Short, head scout of the Hockey Nova Scotia High Performance Program. “Since last summer, we’ve been evaluating 46 of the best young hockey players our province has to offer and we think we’ve selected the best possible team to represent our province.”

Backstopping Team Nova Scotia in goal are Blade Mann-Dixon (Cape Breton West Major Midget/Antigonish) and Rowan O’Brien (Cole Harbour Major Midget/Halifax).

Team Nova Scotia’s blueline will be made up of defencemen Jake Brien (Ridley College/Sydney), Cameron Lee (Northwood Prep/Herring Cove), Daniel Little (Halifax Major Midget/Sackville), Duncan MacKie (Valley Major Midget/Kentville), Nick Welsh (Halifax Major Midget/Halifax), and Brandon Worthen (Dartmouth Major Midget/Dartmouth).

Playing up front for Team Nova Scotia are forwards Noah Bauld (Northwood Prep/Halifax), Dillon Boucher (Halifax Major Midget/Head Chezzetcook), Jordan Boyd (Rothesay Prep/Bedford), Lane Cormier (Pictou Major Midget/Stellarton), Jesse Hamer (Dartmouth Major Midget/Spryfield), Alex MacDonald (Dartmouth Major Midget/Sackville), Makail Parker (Valley Major Midget/Newport), Layton Parsons (Halifax Major Midget/Dartmouth), Campbell Pickard (Halifax Major Midget/Halifax), Luc Poirier (Halifax Major Midget/Bedford), Brett Tidman (Valley Major Midget/Kingston), and Colby Tower (Cape Breton West Major Midget/Inverness).

“This is an exciting opportunity for our players who will get a chance to play against not only Atlantic Canada’s best midget age players but the best players in Quebec, too,” Short said.

The team will be led by head coach Tyler Naugler (assistant coach of the Saint Mary’s Huskies men’s team) and assistant coach Erin King (assistant coach of the St. FX X-Men) and Chris Waugh equipement manager (Cole Harbour Major Midgets).

These players were evaluated during last summer’s U-16 Hockey Nova Scotia High Performance camp as well as throughout the 2012-13 season.

Hockey Nova Scotia wants to congratulate the team and thank all of the players who took part in our High Performance Program.

Follow @HockeyNS on Twitter for updates during the QMJHL Excellence Challenge. The event runs from May 2-5.