This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:
Coastal studs outgun Interior
By Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star
Published: January 15, 2009
all-star games are pretty much a short, all-inclusive paid vacation for the players and coaches.
Come game time, there is no shot-blocking, no physical contact, no trash talking and certainly no backchecking. Guess the Coastal Conference never received the memo from head office for the 39th annual all-star tilt.
The bigger and faster Coastal studs made the Interior stars look like lost tourists as they cruised to a 13-5 victory before just 1,325 fans Wednesday night at the Wesbild Centre. The fans, who paid $14 to watch the river hockey, should have asked for their money back. Or at least received a free turkey from game sponsor Save On Foods.
It was 5-1 Coastal stars after one period. The shots were 30-7. It was 10-2 Coastal stars after two periods, and 12-3 with three minutes to play. The final shots on goal were 71-33.
“That was a tough one,” chuckled Interior head coach Rylan Ferster (Salmon Arm SilverBacks). “It just seems everything they shot kind of went in, and they got those all-star lucky breaks and we’d jump into a play, and turn the puck over. It’s tough when you only score three goals.”
Ferster, who played in the league with the Vernon Lakers, says the main object of the game is to treat the players, who get to keep their jerseys.
“Probably the best thing is just to meet the other guys. They get to hang out with the other guys and maybe let their hair down, so to speak, for one day out of the season.
“It’s usually pedal to the metal for the most part here so it’s nice for a couple of days here, they kind of get to relax and meet the other guys and have some fun.”
Coastal head coach Geoff Courtnall, who compiled 76 points as a 17-year-old rookie with the Cowichan Valley Capitals before playing 1,049 NHL games, also noted the game is secondary for the players.
“I think the build-up to the whole event is the thing that they get to take in, and the skills competition,” said Courtnall, whose all-star son Justin, a Tampa Bay Lightning draft, plays for him in Victoria. “They basically get to play a no-hit, one-touch pass game that basically is not reality, and unfortunately tonight I didn’t think was that great a game, but it’s good for the kids.”
Derek Grant of the Langley Chiefs, an Ottawa draft pick, led the Coast with 3+2, and got the crowd cranked with some stylish Alexander Ovechin-like moves in the Tim Hortons skills competition.
Erik Vos, one of six Powell River Kings on the Coastal roster, pocketed 2+2, including a sweet goal late in the second period where he stood on Andrew Hammond’s doorstep, basically stickhandled the Viper goalie to sleep, and buried it low.
Adam Hartley (Surrey Eagles) scored twice for the Coast, while Kyle Bodie (Kings) supplied 1+3 and other goals came from Darcy Oakes (Kings), Lee Baldwin (Victoria Grizzlies), Evan Pighin (Grizzlies), Russell Goodman (Nanaimo Clippers) and Clay Harvey (Kings).
Connor Morrison (SilverBacks) and Zach Davies (Prince George Spruce Kings) each scored twice for the Interior, while Cory Pritz (Westside Warriors) added a single.
Mark Zengerle (SilverBacks) pocketed three assists.
Bruising defenceman Cameron Brodie, representing the Burnaby Express but now the property of the Vernon Vipers, earned Twist Conditioning MVP for the Coast.
“It was a little interesting playing against my teammates,” smiled Brodie, 20, of White Rock. “It was a lot of fun. It’s not really suited to my style. I’m more of a rough and physical guy, but I felt like I did pretty well, just kind of passive but all stick control, puck control.
“Those guys move the puck so well and they just place it anywhere in the net. It was great offence.”
Harrison May, a net detective with the last-place Merritt Centennials, earned MVP for the Interior, allowing just two goals on 24 third-period shots.
“It (shot flurry) was nothing new to me,” said May, a 19-year-old Vancouver product. “It was really fun, and just an amazing experience. If they score, whatever, it’s just for fun. I sort of felt bad for Kevin Genoe (Spruce Kings) there in the first period. We came out a little flat, but other than that, it was lots of fun.”
Braden Pimm (Vipers) won the puck control contest, defeating Bodie in the finals. Zengerle beat Baldwin in the fastest skater drill, while Davies and May topped the breakaway competition. Grant dazzled in the best moves act. The hardest shot contest was cancelled due to a radar gun malfunction at the morning practice.
The league resumes regular action with six games tonight, including the Vipers hosting the Clippers.
Both Brodie and Mike Leidl, also obtained from Burnaby at the trade dealdine, make their home debut with the Snakes.
“I just got set up with my billets, really nice people, and the guys on the team are really great and welcoming so I feel like I’m really going to fit in perfectly,” said Brodie.
The Vipers visit Prince George Saturday night and the Quesnel Millionaires Sunday afternoon.
Come game time, there is no shot-blocking, no physical contact, no trash talking and certainly no backchecking. Guess the Coastal Conference never received the memo from head office for the 39th annual all-star tilt.
The bigger and faster Coastal studs made the Interior stars look like lost tourists as they cruised to a 13-5 victory before just 1,325 fans Wednesday night at the Wesbild Centre. The fans, who paid $14 to watch the river hockey, should have asked for their money back. Or at least received a free turkey from game sponsor Save On Foods.
It was 5-1 Coastal stars after one period. The shots were 30-7. It was 10-2 Coastal stars after two periods, and 12-3 with three minutes to play. The final shots on goal were 71-33.
“That was a tough one,” chuckled Interior head coach Rylan Ferster (Salmon Arm SilverBacks). “It just seems everything they shot kind of went in, and they got those all-star lucky breaks and we’d jump into a play, and turn the puck over. It’s tough when you only score three goals.”
Ferster, who played in the league with the Vernon Lakers, says the main object of the game is to treat the players, who get to keep their jerseys.
“Probably the best thing is just to meet the other guys. They get to hang out with the other guys and maybe let their hair down, so to speak, for one day out of the season.
“It’s usually pedal to the metal for the most part here so it’s nice for a couple of days here, they kind of get to relax and meet the other guys and have some fun.”
Coastal head coach Geoff Courtnall, who compiled 76 points as a 17-year-old rookie with the Cowichan Valley Capitals before playing 1,049 NHL games, also noted the game is secondary for the players.
“I think the build-up to the whole event is the thing that they get to take in, and the skills competition,” said Courtnall, whose all-star son Justin, a Tampa Bay Lightning draft, plays for him in Victoria. “They basically get to play a no-hit, one-touch pass game that basically is not reality, and unfortunately tonight I didn’t think was that great a game, but it’s good for the kids.”
Derek Grant of the Langley Chiefs, an Ottawa draft pick, led the Coast with 3+2, and got the crowd cranked with some stylish Alexander Ovechin-like moves in the Tim Hortons skills competition.
Erik Vos, one of six Powell River Kings on the Coastal roster, pocketed 2+2, including a sweet goal late in the second period where he stood on Andrew Hammond’s doorstep, basically stickhandled the Viper goalie to sleep, and buried it low.
Adam Hartley (Surrey Eagles) scored twice for the Coast, while Kyle Bodie (Kings) supplied 1+3 and other goals came from Darcy Oakes (Kings), Lee Baldwin (Victoria Grizzlies), Evan Pighin (Grizzlies), Russell Goodman (Nanaimo Clippers) and Clay Harvey (Kings).
Connor Morrison (SilverBacks) and Zach Davies (Prince George Spruce Kings) each scored twice for the Interior, while Cory Pritz (Westside Warriors) added a single.
Mark Zengerle (SilverBacks) pocketed three assists.
Bruising defenceman Cameron Brodie, representing the Burnaby Express but now the property of the Vernon Vipers, earned Twist Conditioning MVP for the Coast.
“It was a little interesting playing against my teammates,” smiled Brodie, 20, of White Rock. “It was a lot of fun. It’s not really suited to my style. I’m more of a rough and physical guy, but I felt like I did pretty well, just kind of passive but all stick control, puck control.
“Those guys move the puck so well and they just place it anywhere in the net. It was great offence.”
Harrison May, a net detective with the last-place Merritt Centennials, earned MVP for the Interior, allowing just two goals on 24 third-period shots.
“It (shot flurry) was nothing new to me,” said May, a 19-year-old Vancouver product. “It was really fun, and just an amazing experience. If they score, whatever, it’s just for fun. I sort of felt bad for Kevin Genoe (Spruce Kings) there in the first period. We came out a little flat, but other than that, it was lots of fun.”
Braden Pimm (Vipers) won the puck control contest, defeating Bodie in the finals. Zengerle beat Baldwin in the fastest skater drill, while Davies and May topped the breakaway competition. Grant dazzled in the best moves act. The hardest shot contest was cancelled due to a radar gun malfunction at the morning practice.
The league resumes regular action with six games tonight, including the Vipers hosting the Clippers.
Both Brodie and Mike Leidl, also obtained from Burnaby at the trade dealdine, make their home debut with the Snakes.
“I just got set up with my billets, really nice people, and the guys on the team are really great and welcoming so I feel like I’m really going to fit in perfectly,” said Brodie.
The Vipers visit Prince George Saturday night and the Quesnel Millionaires Sunday afternoon.
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