Corkey inks Colgate scholarship
By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: January 13, 2012
Brett Corkey could pretty much point at any hockey state on a U.S. map and find an NCAA Division 1 hockey program that would want his services.
The smooth-skating Vernon Vipers’ defenceman accepted a scholarship with one of the best – the Colgate Raiders of Hamilton, N.Y.
“I went down and took a look at it on a flydown and I thought it was a good fit,” said Corkey. “One of my buddies (John Lidgett, former AJHL Camrose Kodiak) goes there and he really likes the place and likes the coaches and likes the team.
“It’s good to finally get that done with and now I can focus on where we need to get to at the end of the season as a team.”
Corkey, who wore an ‘A’ with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge last November in Langley, does it all for Vernon – He quarterbacks their top powerplay unit, kills penalties and can always be counted on to make the smart play. In 31 games this season, he has two goals and 20 assists for 22 points and 16 penalty minutes.
“He’s very good back there,” said Vernon head coach Jason Williamson. “He’s a quiet leader, but he never takes a game off. He’s competing hard in practice and he’s always doing what we ask in the games.”
The good news for the Vipers is the 19-year-old Calgary product will play his 20-year-old season with Vernon before heading to school. Already an alternate captain this season, he is a likely candidate to succeed captain Pat McGillis in 2012-13.
“I love being here, I love playing for Willy and the coaching staff,” said Corkey. “I feel like I can get that much better in that extra year and make more of an impact in my first year in college.
With the scholarship taken care of, Corkey will now focus on getting the struggling Vipers into the playoffs.
“We just got to stick with the game-plan. It’s a process we’ve been working on all year. We’re getting there; each day we’re a little better at practice, we’re in the gym every day and we’re doing all the little things right.”
SNAKE BITES: Former Viper d-man Mike Leidl is in his junior year with the Raiders. Pointless in five games this season, the stay-at-home defender has a goal and three helpers in 54 career NCAA games... The 12-6-2 Raiders are ranked 12th overall in the uscho.com Division I men’s poll...A total of seven BCHLers made Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings of the top-210 North American skaters: Jujhar Khaira (No. 80, Prince George Spruce Kings), Alexander Kerfoot (No. 81, Coquitlam Express), Morgan Zulinick (No. 104, Salmon Arm SilverBacks), Reece Willcox (No. 114, Merritt Centennials), Devon Toews (No. 181, Surrey Eagles), Paul De Jersey (No. 203, Spruce Kings) and Wade Murphy (No. 204, Penticton Vees).
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