KIJHL Notebook: Okanagan Conference | Kamloops Storm
Bill Ohlhausen Division
Following wins over the Kimberley Dynamiters (3-1) and 100 Mile House Wranglers (7-1), Princeton Posse head coach-general manager Torrin White said one of the most impressive parts about his group is how motivated they are, making his life easier.
“It’s also cool to see a group of guys with the same purpose, the same goal and it’s easy to show up to the rink everyday when they have that attitude, that mindset,” he said.
White added that both goalies were rock solid and defenceman Josh Roy and Jeffrey Stewart had strong performances.
“Those are two guys that have played some big minutes and have been consistent and pedal to the floor working, whether it’s offensively or defending or sticking up for their teammates,” he said.
The best thing going on with the Posse is everyone is chipping in, White said. Everyone is contributing.
“I think we’ve been playing pretty hard, there is always things to clean up and really get dialed in on, but overall I think we’ve been playing pretty well,” said Sicamous Eagles head coach-general manager Liam McOnie. “We’ve gotten a lot of scoring from everywhere in our lineup, and we’ve added solid goaltending.”
McOnie recently added Dylan Konschuh from the Kamloops Storm. McOnie said that Konschuh is a smart player, who plays fast and hard.
“He plays on the inside and is a good forechecker and goes to good spots. He allows his hockey IQ to create offence for himself.”
Revelstoke Grizzlies head coach Jiri Novak liked how his team rebounded following their 2-1 loss to the Creston Valley Thunder Cats to defeat the Kamloops Storm 7-2.
“It showed me the guys are back on the right track and overall in the season, it’s being on the same page. Some guys are trying to figure out their role now compared to last year,” said Novak. “The guys aren’t rookies and have to find that role and do the right things to send a message to these younger guys we have.”
Novak is happy to see Ryder Ponto give the Grizzlies a chance to win every game. In five games, Ponto has four wins with a 2.36 goals against average and a .926 save rate. Novak said that Ponto has been adjusting to a different system.
It’s been the same for new captain Jacob Smith, who returned after two seasons in the BCHL with the Merritt Centennials.
“He works hard and is a good leader in the group.”
Merritt Centennials head coach Wes McLeod wants to see more consistency from his players. He has seen good stretches, but doesn’t feel they have played a complete game.
“We’ve had a lot of good runs, but then the wheels come off,” he said. “For us again, we’re just a little bit young and immature in the way we play sometimes and it ends up in the back of our net quickly,” he said.
In their 5-0 loss to the Sicamous Eagles, McLeod felt they had a good first period, with scoring chances early.
“It’s about getting off to a good start and trying to build a lead and if the lead doesn’t come, you gotta stick with it and stick to your game plan and not steer away from it,” he said.
Steven Foster leads the team with seven points in six games and is having success as he played for McLeod last season on the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18 team.
“He’s a player that’s at his best when he’s playing with pace, is an extremely good skater and he’s used his pace a few times to get around defenders and create havoc on defences,” said McLeod, who has used Foster with Maxim Radmanovich and Sam Giangualano. “They are starting to build some chemistry.”
The positives that Kelowna Chiefs head coach-general manager Nick Deschens takes from a pair of close losses to 100 Mile House, 4-2, and 2-1 to the Merritt Centennials are the fact they are creating many opportunities, they just aren’t getting rewarded.
“For us to be clicking, it’s going to take a little more time than it has, but I think we’re gonna get there, it’s just a matter of more teaching, a little more instruction and then things should start connecting,” said Deschenes.
Kelowna made a couple of moves to add a forward and a left-handed defenceman.
“He’s (Trent Thiessen) a bigger body and I thought we were lacking in how we play in front of our net,” said Deschenes. “Matt Fraser, I’ve seen him in practice and I think he’s gonna be a pretty dynamic player.”
Fraser produced at nearly a point-per-game with the Calgary Northstars U18AAA program last season.
Osoyoos Coyotes head coach-general manager Ken Law says they need to do a better job in their own zone, following a 5-1 loss to the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
“They scored three power-play goals on us and it was the same play, basically,” said Law. “We just didn’t respond, too many guys open and too many options given.”
Law wants to see his players do a better job of capitalizing on the chances they’re creating.
Penticton’s Dexter Materi leads the Coyotes in goals (three) and points (five).
“He’s not a very big player (5-5, 140 pounds), but he plays with an edge and is hard to control when he gets his speed going. He’s got really nice hands in tight against guys.”
Doug Birks Division
Spencer Brazel and Aidan Hicks, two of the Chase Heat’s last additions before the season started, have made positive impacts. Brazel, who has two goals in six games, has been great according to head coach-general manager Kyle Evans.
“He’s a very skilled player that put up some good numbers at U18, so we’re expecting big things this season and in the future,” said Evans. “He has a nose for the net, he plays a gritty game, and he’s not afraid to go into those tough areas and come out with the puck.”
On Hicks: “A prolific scorer at the U18 AA level, we have high expectations. He’s made the transition to the junior game pretty quickly – his skill and knack for the net are really starting to show.”
With how Evans wants the team to play, he is seeing their “cycle game starting to do some damage and generate chances.”
When asked about their 7-6 overtime loss to the Quesnel River Rush, Evans said it didn’t have a negative impact on the players.
“We’re obviously disappointed. That was a game we should have won and it got away from us,” said Evans, adding he framed that as an opportunity for the team to learn tough lessons along the way. “Our group understands this and they’ve been full steam ahead this week. There’s no negative energy anymore.”
Kamloops Storm rookie Keenan Holland is a dream for head coach Jan Ludvig because he’s shooting. And scoring – six goals in six games.
“He’s extremely smart,” said Ludvig of the Smithers product, who is 6-8, 210 pounds. “He’s a really good player, he’s tall. I have to stand on a chair when I wanna talk to him face-to-face. I’m 5-9 on a good day.”
Defenceman Tyler Smoluk and Ethan Hofstrand have been “horses for us,” said 100 Mile House Wranglers head coach-general manager Levi Stuart.
“They play a lot of minutes and the right way,” he said. “They might not be getting rewarded on the scoresheet, but they are definitely getting recognized for their successes by their teammates and the coaching staff. They definitely are huge leaders for us and the young guys to see what it takes to be successful in this league.”
Rookies Jaden Rusznak leads the league with 14 points in eight games, while Kole Duquette leads Wranglers defencemen with nine points. Stuart credits their success to buying into how he wants them to play and his expectations.
“It’s their hard work and dedication that is paying off for them right now,” he said.
Kaelen Swanson remains tied with Asher Lucas on the Williams Lake Mustangs for the team lead in points with seven. Head coach-general manager Tyrel Lucas coached the hometown product for several years and knows what he can do offensively.
“I knew it was just a matter of time for him to break out,” said Lucas. “I thought Kaelen’s last game he did that, but it was the things he was doing without the puck, and his battling and compete level was higher, giving him those opportunities. He moved his feet and got rewarded for it.”
On Oct. 9, Lucas completed a trade with the Kelowna Chiefs to improve their top-six depth with Matthew Keylor. Last season Keylor had 41 points in 44 games, but is pointless in five this year. Lucas felt they needed an experienced skill player and Keylor fits their need (92 career KIJHL games – 25 goals, 30 assists). Keylor’s former Chiefs teammates told their coach that is exactly what he is.
“We just had our first practice and he’s going to be a huge asset, and will fit in nicely.”
Logan Maxwell is 1-1 since taking over the Quesnel River Rush bench as the interim head coach-general manager. Maxwell, who has been coaching at the U15 and senior level the last six seasons, is focused on the basics and improving defensive play.
“It was more just playing hard, simple hockey and getting a few practices in,” he said.
Earning a 7-6 overtime win over Chase was a confidence builder.
“We can run and gun if we have to, though that’s not an ideal situation,” he said. “We have things to improve, as well as our PK, but the power-play was clicking.”
Maxwell wants the team to be hard on the forecheck and “annoying in our own ends, with quick transition when we get a chance to.”
If you didn’t get a chance to read last week’s KIJHL Notebook – click here.
