Penticton Vees forward Brooks ‘Boomer’ DeMars has been named to the 2025 U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team for the upcoming Under-17 Four Nations Tournament.
The event will see the host United States take on Czechia, Slovakia and Switzerland in Plymouth, Mich. from August 5-9.
DeMars, 16, cracked the roster after a strong showing at the USA Hockey Boys National 16 Player Development Camp in Amherst, N.Y.
The Hugo, Minn. product signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with Penticton in May after the Vees acquired his rights via a trade with the Swift Current Broncos as part of the WHL Expansion Draft.
“Boomer is a skilled two-way forward we projected as a first-round talent in his WHL Draft year,” Vees President, General Manager and Head Coach Fred Harbinson said. “He’s among the top players in his age group in the U.S. and will be a key part of what we’re building over the next three to four years.”
In 2024-25, DeMars registered 32 goals and 37 assists for 69 points in 50 regular-season games and captained the Long Island Gulls U15AAA squad to a New York State Championship, where he scored the overtime winner in the title match.
The 6-foot-2, 187-pound forward finished third in scoring at the U15 Nationals with 13 points (6G-7A) in five outings.
DeMars also got a taste of U16 hockey with 15 points (5G-10A) in 15 call-up appearances.
He’ll kick off the Four Nations Tournament on August 5 against Slovakia.
2025 WHL Champion Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll (Medicine Hat Tigers), Brody Gillespie (Spokane Chiefs) and Kalder Varga (Kelowna Rockets) all helped the United States capture gold at the 2024 edition of the tournament, with Varga leading all American players with eight points (3G-5A) in four games.
