KIJHL Notebook: Okanagan Conference – Perron stellar in Cents net
Before diving into this week’s KIJHL Notebook on the Okanagan Conference, there is a new franchise record milestone to acknowledge.
On Jan. 21 against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Levi Astill became the Border Bruins’ new single-season points record holder. During their broadcast against the Castlegar Rebels on Tuesday, Kevin McKinnon, the voice of the Border Bruins, stated that the Edmonton native had broken the previous point total set by Connor Gross. In 2013-14, Gross put up 73 points in 49 games. Astill accomplished the feat in 34 games. Astill is averaging 2.14 points per game, if he maintains that rate of production in their final seven games, he can finish the season with 93 points.
Bill Ohlhausen Division
Tyson Horiachka has 16 points during a seven-game point streak. The Sherwood Park, Alta. native has been very happy with his play since the Christmas break.
“I’ve been happy with where my game is at and feel like I’ve been getting rewarded,” said Horiachka. “I think it’s just been my teammates honestly. We got Jonathan Ward, who is a two-year veteran, back so I had some familiarity with him and he was able to slide in with me and Matthew Langdon. Langdon’s been one of the best players in the league this year, if not the best in my opinion, so it makes it easy on me and I feel I’ve just been getting lucky and burying my chances.”
Colton McLeod has six points in his last three games for the Revelstoke Grizzlies and hit a milestone playing in 100 career KIJHL regular season games on Jan. 25 against the Columbia Valley Rockies.
“It’s a pretty cool milestone. Looking back, it’s been a great experience playing in this league,” said McLeod, who has 77 career regular season points. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, the teammates I’ve played with, and the coaches who have helped me grow. It’s gone by fast, but I’m focused on making the most of the season.”
The Whistler native likes how he has been playing lately and is focused on performing with confidence, making smart plays, and contributing however he can.
“Offensively, it’s been nice to produce and help the team on the scoresheet, but that comes from my linemates and the way we’ve been working together,” said McLeod. “I just want to keep that momentum going and do whatever it takes to help the team win.”
McLeod has 21 goals, hitting the 20-goal mark for the first time in his KIJHL career. In his first two seasons combined, he scored 20 goals in 65 games.
“I wanted to be more of an offensive threat this season, so I worked on my shot and finding ways to get into better scoring positions,” he said. “A lot of it also comes from having more confidence and playing in the right situations. My teammates have been a big part of it too, and I just want to keep building on that and helping the team however I can.”
Mathis Perron has won eight straight starts for the Merritt Centennials and 12 wins in his last 13. The Neuville, Que., native said he’s been playing well.
“I just kept things super simple and my team helps me out,” said Perron, who has a 2.85 goals against average with a .911 save percentage. “I don’t over complicate things. I’m very technical, use my big frame (6-3, 205-pounds) so I just try to get in front of pucks and keep it simple. My job is pretty easy. I just have to stop the puck and I’ve just found that my team helps me so much with doing that.”
Austin Horbachewsky is third on the Sicamous Eagles with 37 points in 36 games and has eight points in his last five, including a three goal, four point performance against the Golden Rockets.
“It was obviously pretty cool. I’ve had two goal games this year, so getting the hat-trick was quite nice,” said Horbachewsky, a West Kelowna native.
He has liked how he has performed on their power-play, and Horbachewsky has five goals on the man-advantage in four games this month.
“I feel like our power-play has been doing really well, the percentage is quite high and we just need to keep it going,” he said.
Owen Ivanov said captain Luke Rishaug brings valuable experience to the Kelowna Chiefs. Prior to being traded to the Chiefs in the off-season, the West Kelowna native played three seasons for the North Okanagan Knights.
“He knows what it takes to work hard and win,” said Ivanov of Rishaug, who was named captain before Christmas. “He brings a lot of hard work and dedication to the table. He’s the first one on the ice in the morning and usually one of the last guys on the ice.”
Rishaug leads the Chiefs with 37 points in 33 games, a new season high for him. Rishaug was on a seven-game point streak, in which he produced 13 points.
“He’s doing the right things, he’s at the net,” said Ivanov. “I’d say 70 per cent of his goals are bang ins in front of the net. He’s very consistent and just gets it done.”
Jaiden Jakubowski has played five games for the Osoyoos Coyotes since coming over in a trade from Columbia Valley. In that time he feels he’s played strong with two wins.
“The guys have been giving me good support so that’s all I can really ask for,” he said. “It’s a good, really welcoming group of guys. I like how gritty we are, even if we’re down in a game, we still keep persisting, keep trying no matter what the score is.”
Jakubowski now feels settled in with the Coyotes.
“I think I played really well against Princeton on Jan. 25, (54 saves in a 3-1 loss)” he said. “I really felt like I was back to how I normally play.”
Doug Birks Division
Camden Bowman has had a great experience playing for the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
The grandson of Scotty Bowman, the NHL’s all-time winningest coach and a Hockey Hall of Famer, feels he’s been playing better each game.
“I think it’s important to be consistent in this league, bringing it game in and game out,” said Bowman, who gets feedback from his grandfather and father, Stan Bowman, general manager of the Edmonton Oilers. “Some games are better than others and I’m just trying to be more consistent.”
When it comes to his hockey bloodlines, Bowman, 19, says he’s “pretty fortunate to have the bloodlines that I do.”
“I take advantage of reaching out for any kind of feedback I can get on my game,” said Bowman, who plays an average of 15:49 a game. “My dad is pretty much able to watch all my games on FloHockey. It’s good to hear what he has to say. My grandpa as well, he’s able to catch most of the games. It’s good to be able to talk to them and get some feedback.”
Bowman sees his role as a smart, two-way defenceman.
“I can defend against some of the top guys and have a good role on the penalty-kill,” said Bowman, who began his junior career last season with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. “It’s an important part of the game to be able to kill penalties. I do take pride in being out there, whether it’s blocking shots or intercepting passes.”
Bowman plays an average of 2:54 a game on the penalty-kill.
Joining the Kamloops Storm in a trade from Grand Forks has been good for Wyatt Olson, who has produced five points in seven games.
“It’s pretty good, it’s a good team with lots of good guys and I’m getting lots of ice time so I’m having a great time,” said Olson. “I’m contributing more, getting pucks out faster and passing better and putting up points when I can.”
It’s been a good opportunity for him. Olson believes he can contribute offensively, but knows he can be a “lock down defenceman” and be counted on for the penalty-kill. Olson is averaging about 24 minutes of ice time a game.
Isaiah Bagri likes how he’s been playing for the Quesnel River Rush.
“I’m just doing everything I can to help the team win by playing my game at trusting in the team and our systems,” said Bagri. “With the help of the team, I’ve been able to produce offensively and control plays on all areas of the ice.”
Bagri has improved his 200-foot game and is striving towards playing a complete game. He’s second on the River Rush with 43 points in 32 games.
“It feels great to be producing at the start of my junior career and the best area of my game,” said Bagri, who works to be consistent and help the team have a successful season.
Alex Jessey is 3-3-0 in his last six games for the Williams Lake Mustangs with a 4.10 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.
The Calgary native feels he’s “hit the next level with my game” this season.
“After getting traded to Williams Lake, it’s really allowed me to get an opportunity to build game after game and start to put some streaks together,” he said. Honestly, I think it’s the best I’ve really been playing in a long time. I’ve been super happy, I just hope we can keep going up.”
In four of his six January games, Jessey’s save percentage has been well above 90 per cent.
“I’m not a big guy, so I’ve been trying to play aggressively,” he said. “I move really well laterally east-west and I think that’s where I can get a jump on guys. I’m able to get myself back to position when passes are going back door and the shots aren’t getting through.”
Jack Smith is on a five-game point streak for the Chase Heat with eight points.
“I’ve honestly felt I’ve been playing more free and with confidence,” said Smith, a Kamloops native. “I’ve almost been slowing down my game, finding areas where I need to slow down and where I need to speed up. That’s really helped me.”
Smith has found chemistry with Malcolm Anderson and has also played with Kaleb Premak and Reece Phillips.