Assistant Coach of the Central Plains Capitals' female midget club John Ferg has been named the Head Coach for the inaugural Female U-16 Team Manitoba Hockey Team.

Ferg says he's extremely honoured to get the nod as the head coach, and he's really looking forward to the opportunity.

"We've already started identifying the top 100 players in that age category," says Ferg. "We look at the seven rural AAA Bantam teams that play throughout the year, plus the six city teams as well. There's always a couple of players playing in the Midget age category as well, and some attending prep schools as well."

Ferg explains the camp, or selection period, a four step procedure. It begins in Winnipeg with the Top 100 camp from April 21st to 23rd, moves to Portage la Prairie for the Top 40 Camp May 11th to 14th. The team will then get reduced to 25 after Portage la Prairie, and another camp will be held in July to get closer to the final roster. Ferg says the team should be fully picked and ready to go shortly after that.

"Eventually it will lead to a National or Western Canadian Championship," adds Ferg. "It's not set up across the country for the U-16 age group yet, but we're really working toward that. The program this year will culminate with inter-provincial play with Saskatchewan in September and October."