SILVERTIPS HOLD TRY-OUTS

By Tali Campbell

NANAIMO (ISN) — As many of us were sleeping in, enjoying our Saturday a handful of young lads weren’t.

Surprisingly, they were playing ice hockey.

The North Island Silvertips were holding try-outs for this upcoming season @ the Nanaimo Ice Centre (NIC)

As a bunch of players went onto the ice, another bunch were over at the second arena, dry training. Getting their pre-game warm-ups in, running, stretching etc!

On ice they scrimmaged around, shot some pucks, did a few plays until the afternoon when it became a scrimmage. It was colours VS colours for a fun little tourney that went from Saturday afternoon into tomorrow.

At any one time there were approximately 15 players and two goalies. The session was coached by the assistant coaches of the Silver Tips as head coach Steve Parsons watched, as did other scouts from around Vancouver Island.

By the end of this weekend, the Silver Tips need to commit to 11 players.

There should be plenty of returning talent with which to build that core, but the veterans shouldn’t take anything for granted, Coach Steve Parsons told Greg Sakaki from the Nanaimo News Bulletin!

Hard decisions will be made by the Silver Tips because of the outstanding talent shown by all players today.

Don’t be surprised to see one these young lads will be the next Steven Stamkos, or Sid the Kid! – Tali Campbell, 15, is ISN Nanaimo correspondent

TEAM CANUCKS 2010 MALE UNDER 17 BC CUP CHAMPIONS

Team Canucks captured the 2010 Male Under 17 BC Cup with a 5-4 win over Team Maple Leafs in 100 Mile House last week.

Playing for the Canucks from the Island were Brandon Egli, South Island; Braedon Behan, Campbell River; and Taylor Grabowski , Nanaimo; while Lucas Grayson, Comox; Clay Carson, South Island ; and  David Walchuk, South Island played for the Leafs.

The Canucks took a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Adam Wheeldon (Nelson) and Diego Bartlett (Castlegar).  

The Leafs battled back in the second period and tied the game at two (2) with goals from Ryan Olsen (Delta) and Morgan Zulinick (Kamloops).  

Late in the frame the Canucks regained the lead with Bartlett’s second goal of the game.  Early in the third period the Canuck’s Wheeldon scored again and gave his team the 4-2 lead.

With five minutes remaining in the game the Canucks went up 5-2 with a goal from Steven Hodges (Chilliwack).  The Leafs responded with two  goals in 30 seconds to make it a 5-4 game; goal-scorers were Connor Fortems (Delta) and Troy Stecher (Richmond).  
The Leafs fought hard in the dying seconds and fell just short.

3rd Place Game: Team Avalanche 5 vs. Team Bruins 2

Late in the first period the Avalanche’s Turner Lawson (Kelowna) gave his team the 1-0 lead.  After a scoreless second period, Kyle Hoekstra (Vancouver) scored one minute into the third period to give the Avalanche a 2-0 lead.  

The Avalanche built their lead to four with with goals from Stefan Burzan (Surrey) and Lucas Nickles (Salmon Arm).  

The Bruins made a come back in the final 12 minutes of the third with goals from Kyle Horsman (Seachelt) and Travis Flug (Parksville), but this was as close as they would get.  The Avalanche added an empty-net goal to win the game 5-2.

Also playing for the Bruins were Quentin McShane , North Island  and  Dayne Ellison, South Island. Team Avalanche included  Brendon Enns, Campbell River; Dayne Gibson,  South Island; and Myles Powell, Comox.

5th Place Game: Team Flyers 5 vs. Team Sabres 3

Thirty seconds into the game the Flyers were on the board with a goal from Luke Gordon (Terrace).  

The Sabres tied the game four minutes later with a goal from Austin Plevy (Langley), but this was short-lived as Carter Rigby (Penticton) restored the lead for the Flyers.  

The lone goal-scorer in the second period was the Flyer’s Matt Bissett (Pitt Meadows).  The Flyers continued to push early in the third period and made it a 5-1 game with goals from Bissett and Linden Horswill (Nelson).  

The Sabres added goals from Matt Warner (Prince George) and Evan Richardson (Nanaimo) late, but it was too little too late.

Team Flyers also included Keifer Giroux, Nanaimo; Wyatt Tremblay, Campbell River;  Kyle Richter, South Island  and Adam Robertson, North Island.  Also playing for Team Sabres were Nic Renyard, South Island; Kade Pilton,North Island; and  Conner Krupa, South Island.

RICHARDSON NAMED TO MML ALL-STAR TEAM

(ISN) Forward Evan Richardson of the North Island Silvertips has been selected to the 2009-10 Major Midget League All-Star Team.  

Richardson was one of the most dominant players in the MML this past season leading the league in scoring with 73 points – 37 goals and 35 assists.  

His strong play helped transform the Silvertips from an out-of-playoff team to a contender for the MML Championship

Also selected were goalie Marcus Beesley of the Cariboo Cougars; defenceman Max Mowat, Okanagan Rockets; defenceman Griffin Reinhart, forward Steven Iacobellis,and forward Curtis Loik, all of the Vancouver North West Giants.

Players were selected based on votes from BC Hockey Major Midget League coaches. Coaches were prohibited from voting for players on their own team.  Each player will be presented with an award from BC Hockey.

SILVERTIPS OUT OF CONTENTION

Game One: Greater Vancouver Canadians 3 – Silvertips 2
Game Two: Greater Vancouver Canadians 2 – Silvertips 1

The North Island Silvertips were knocked out of contention in the BC Hockey Major Midget League quarter-finals on the weekend.

Jessie Siemens (Richmond) scored with 1:35 remaining in the third period to tie the first game at two and force overtime…Siemens then scored the game winning goal with 6:38 remaining in the overtime to give the Canadians the game one win.

With the Silvertips losing 1-0 with minutes remaining in the third period of the second game, Beau Blanaru (Nanaimo) scored to tie the game and force overtime for the second consecutive game.

Jessie Siemens was the hero again for the Canadians scoring at 5:52 of the overtime period to give his team the series win…Devin Nijjer (Delta) was tremendous in the net for the Canadians in both of their wins.

MAJOR MIDGET LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH – FEBRUARY

South Island Thunderbirds’ Nic Renyard the North Island Silvertips’ Brent Baltus were runners-up for the Major Midget League Player of the Month for February.  

Fraser Valley Bruin’s forward Brad Parker from Chilliwack was named player of the mont.

Parker finished the month with 15 points – six goals and nine assists – and had an impressive plus seven rating.

SILVERTIPS IN QUARTER-FINALS

By Sean Orr

The North Island Silvertips will take on the Greater Vancouver Canadians in the BC Hockey Major Midget League quarter-finals this weekend.

Als in the quarter-finals will be the Okanagan Rockets vs. Vancouver North East Chiefs.

The Quarter-finals are a best-of-three series with games being played on Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon (if required).

Last weekend the Silvertips ended the season by defeating the Valley West Hawks 5-3 in game one and 3-2 in game 2.

Austin Vetterl (Surrey) had a great weekend for the Hawks finishing with a pair of goals…Brent Baltus (Nanaimo) continued his hot streak with the Silvertips finishing the weekend two goals and one assist.

The Hawks are eliminated from the Major Midget League playoffs…The Silvertips will travel to the Lower Mainland to play the Canadians in the Quarter-final match-up next weekend.

SILVERTIPS WIN, THUNDERBIRDS WINLESS

By Sean Orr

The North Island Silvertips won both their games while the South Island Thunderbird lost both theirs last weekend in BC Hockey Major Midget League action.

North Island Silvertips vs. Fraser Valley Bruins

Game One: Silvertips 7 – Burins 2
Game Two: Silvertips 6 – Bruins 1

North Island was led by Evan Richardson (Nanaimo) and Brent Baltus (Nanaimo) this past weekend: Richardson finished with nine points, three  goals and six assists and Baltus also finished with nine points – seven goals and two assists…Dalton Sward (Abbotsford), Brandon Daase (Chilliwack) and Steven Hodges (Chilliwack) each scored for the Bruins.

 

South Island Thunderbirds vs. Cariboo Cougars

Game One: Thunderbirds 1 – Cougars 3
Game Two: Thunderbirds 3 – Cougars 4

Nic Renyard (Victoria) almost single handedly won the first game for the Thunderbirds, stopping 41 of 43 shots…Jordan Duncan (Prince George), Chris Albee (Prince George) and Tyson Witala (Prince George) third period goals gave the Cougars the come-from-behind game one  win…Jared Crossan’s (Prince George) third period goal proved to be the game two  winner for the Cougars.

The Vancouver North West Giants and Cariboo Cougars have clinched a bye to the semi-finals after finishing in the top two  positions in the BC Hockey Major Midget League standings.  Playoff matches will be determined following the final weekend of League Play.

NO WIN FOR ISLAND TEAMS

By Sean Orr

The two Vancouver Island teams did not fare well in BC Hockey Major Midget League action on the weekend.  

South Island Thunderbirds vs. Thompson Blazers

Game One: Thunderbirds 4 – Blazers 4
Game Two: Thunderbirds 3 – Blazers 3

The Thunderbirds came back from a 4-0 deficit in the third period in the first game of the weekend to secure the tie…Mark Walton (Victoria) finished the weekend with two goals and one  assist the Thunderbirds…Shane Danyluk (Salmon Arm) finished the first game with three  goals for the Blazers…The T-Birds hold a one  point lead over the Blazers for the last spot in the MML standings.

Vancouver North West Giants vs. North Island Silvertips

Game One: Giants 7 – Silvertips 1
Game Two: Giants 2 – Silvertips 0

Curtis Loik’s (North Vancouver) hat trick in the first game led his team past the Silvertips…The lone goal scorer for the Silvertips in the weekend was Beau Blanaru (Nanaimo)…Griffin Reinhart (West Vancouver) finished with the weekend with four  points – one (1) goal and three (3) assists – for the Giants…Lyndon Stonwood (West Vancouver) scored the shut out in net for the Giants in their game two  win.

ISLAND TEAMS WIN ONE, LOSE ONE EACH

By Sean Orr

The North Island Silvertips and the South Island Thunderbirds won one, lost one each in Major Midget League action over the weekend.

North Island Silvertips vs. Vancouver North East Chiefs

Game One: Silvertips 6 – Chiefs 5
Game Two: Chiefs 9 – Silvertips 4

Brent Baltus (Nanaimo) had an outstanding weekend for the Silvertips finishing with four  goals and two  assists…The Chiefs had a strong weekend offensively; Justin Georgeson (Maple Ridge) finished with six points, Jordan Beveridge (Maple Ridge) and Matthew Bissett (Maple Ridge) each had four points and four other players finished with three  points apiece…Evan Richardson (Nanaimo) extended his league-leading point total to 61 after finishing the weekend with three points.

Okanagan Rockets vs. South Island Thunderbirds

Game One: Rockets 5 – Thunderbirds 1
Game Two: Thunderbirds 3 – Rockets 2  

Thunderbird’s goaltender Ryan Waldhaus (Victoria) had a spectacular game on Sunday, stopping 49 shots en route to his teams upset win…Brandon Egli’s (Victoria) goal with 3:57 remaining in the third period of the second game proved to be the game winner for the Thunderbirds…Brent Lashuk’s (Lake Country) finished the first game with three  points with one of his goals being the game winner.

SILVERTIPS ACE THUNDERBIRDS

By Sean Orr

The North Island Silvertips aced the South Island Thunderbirds in two Major Midget Hockey League games over the weekend.

Game One: Thunderbirds 0 – Silvertips 4
Game Two: Thunderbirds 2 – Silvertips 4

Sean MaGuire (Powell River) had a strong game in net for the Silvertips in their 4-0 win over the Thunderbirds

Evan Richardson (Nanaimo) finished the weekend with six points – two goals and four assists – increasing his league leading total to 58 points.

Sam Johnston (North Saanich) and Dane Gibson (Sidney) were the lone goal scorers for the Thunderbirds…the Thunderbirds were hit hard by injuries this weekend with five regulars out of the line-up.

Brent Baltus’s (Nanaimo) second goal of three on the weekend for the Silvertips proved to be the game two winner.

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