BCHL Team Reports
February 10, 2012
Posted in BC Edition, Junior A
BY BRENT MUTIS /
While the Penticton Vees have run away from the the rest of the Interior Conference, there are some real battles unfolding for the remaining playoff positions.
Some teams, however, are having to settle for developing the youngsters now that the postseason is out of reach.
COASTAL CONFERENCE
Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Alberni Valley is always up first thanks to the alphabet but they remain last in the conference with a 16-26-2-1 mark. The team’s youngest player, Evan Tironese, has shown signs lately of being a good piece for the future. They’ve also scored the third most power-play goals in the BCHL.
Coquitlam Express
The Express have opened a nice cushion over fifth-place Nanaimo but would like to keep pushing to get into third. A fourth-place finish could mean a playoff meeting with the Powell River Kings who have won 10 straight. Coquitlam’s power-play is lethal and there could wind up being five 20-goal scorers on the team.
Cowichan Valley Capitals
The Caps have seen the Express creep to within three points recently and Surrey, who leads them by two points, also has a game in hand. The offence went dry at the end of January and a recent five-goal outburst still wound up as an OT loss. Cowichan Valley needs leaders Devin Gannon, Brett Knowles and Matt Brown to pave the way right now.
Langley Rivermen
One of the league’s biggest teams in terms of average height and weight, the Rivermen are also amongst the youngest teams in the BCHL and it’s shown this season. Langley sits seventh but has gotten good production from young players like Bo Pellah and Austin Plevy. Derek Sutliffe’s seven-point night recently against Victoria was a season highlight.
Nanaimo Clippers
The boatmen seem to be paddling in circles and can’t gain on the fourth-place Express. Defencemen Graeme McCormack, Josh Phillips and David Iacono have buoyed the offence but the team hasn’t been able to get much secondary production after Andrew Gladiuk, Kyle Kramer and Trevor Fitzgerald. Goalie Billy Faust remains a bright spot.
Powell River Kings
With the Vees grabbing most of the BCHL headlines for their winning exploits, the Kings have quietly fashioned a 10-game win streak of their own to seize top spot in the conference. Cohen Adair has assumed the team scoring lead after d-man Craig Dalrymple had led most of the season. The loss of goalie Jamie Phillips has not been noticed with Jonah Imoo stepping right in.
Surrey Eagles
Surrey hadn’t lost in regulation in 10 games as of this writing but they did drop four of those decisions in OT. Not a high-scoring team, the Eagles do have nine players with double-digit goals. Andrew Hunt has been the story of Surrey’s season with a .922 save percentage and a BCHL-leading 1,269 saves in 41 games.
Victoria Grizzlies
Avert your eyes. The Grizz have been grisly lately as they’ve been going with a short bench due to trades and injuries to forward Wes Myron and goalie Garrett Rockafellow. They were 0-9-1-0 over a 10-game span recently. Positives would be the production of first-year players Coltyn Hansen and Cam Lawson who had 10 and eight points respectively in their last five games.
INTERIOR CONFERENCE
Chilliwack Chiefs
Don’t look now but the Vernon Vipers have a winning record in their last 10 while Chilliwack doesn’t. The Snakes are gaining ground on fourth-place Chilliwack and an upcoming road trip that includes Prince George and Merritt will be a tester. Recent losses to Westside and Trail have hurt but the Chiefs still have games in hand on the Spruce Kings and Cents.
Merritt Centennials
A five-game stretch at the end of January and start of February brought just four goals scored and included shutouts by Vernon and Penticton. For a team that has not scored a ton this year, it’s a bit alarming though it’s not for a lack of shots. Some finish would be nice from Regan Soquila, Brandon Bruce and Silvan Harper.
Penticton Vees
Having captured win No. 30 on Feb. 7 in Chilliwack, the Vees have just about done it all this season. They’ve scored more goals than anyone, given up fewer, and boast a blue-collar work ethic to boot. It’s a combination that could take the team a long way.
Prince George Spruce Kings
Every game, opponents know they have to contain the line of Michael Colantone, Jujhar Khaira and Paul De Jersey but few seem to be able to do it. The trio have 85 goals and 204 points between them while goalies Kirk Thompson and Ty Swabb each have sub-3.00 goals-against averages and >.900 save percentages.
Salmon Arm SilverBacks
Spinning their wheels lately, the ’Backs came up empty-handed on a trip to Prince George to begin February and have just one regulation win in 2012. Alex Gillies, the team’s youngest player, has been a bright spot but there isn’t much left on offence after Morgan Zulinick and Devin Muller.
Trail Smoke Eaters
The Smokies seem to be relishing the role of spoiler now and have scored wins over Surrey and Chilliwack in the last couple of weeks. Five of the team’s 11 wins have come in their last 10 games and Erik Cooper has gone berserk with 17 points in eight games. Connor Tiechko has 15 points in his last nine while Garrett McMullen has eight in his last five.
Vernon Vipers
The Snakes may slither into the playoffs yet. Michael Zalewski has 11 goals in nine games to crack the 30 mark and goalie Kirby Halcrow is beginning to play like his former self. Vernon’s acquisition of veterans at the deadline means there’s no panic as it gets late in the season.
Westside Warriors
The league’s youngest team (Peter McIntosh is the only 1991-born player) won’t be making the playoffs barring a miracle but have to like the idea of Marcus Basara, Max French and Travis Blanleil coming back for next season. Dwayne Rodrigue has been a star in goal of late and has seen his save percentage rise to .910.
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