KIJHL Team Reports

February 10, 2012
Posted in BC Edition, Junior B

BY BRANDON ASTLE /

Kootenay Conference

Eddie Mountain Division

Fernie Ghostriders:The Ghostriders were one of the top teams in January winning five out of six games. They also scored 37 goals in that month and only allowed 21 goals against. The remaining seven games will all be played against teams within the division. Five players have over 40 points or more on the roster.

Kimberley Dynamiters:With eight games remaining, the ‘Nitros still could have a shot at the top spot in the division. The highest scoring team in the Eddie will look to turn the page on a dismal January where they had five wins. Richard Hubscher is having a fantastic year with a team leading 84 points.

Creston Valley Thundercats: For a sixth straight season, the ‘Cats will have a 25-win campaign. The powerplay has something to do with the success as they sit in second place in powerplay percentage. The scoring has been spread out with seven players having at least a point per game average.

Golden Rockets: For a fourth straight season the Rockets will play post-season Hockey. After a three win January, the road will only get tougher for Golden. In the remaining eight games, they will only play at home twice. Their road record to date is 7-11-1.

Columbia Valley Rockies:It will be important for the Rockies to play hard the rest of the way in hopes of taking momentum into next season. Five games will be played in Invermere in the month of February, which will help their cause. Rookie Joe Colborne is the lone skater at a point-per-game average.

 

Neil Murdoch Division

Beaver Valley Nitehawks: The Nitehawks will likely be the number one KIJHL team by the time the regular season comes to an end. The squad has only lost one game in 2012 and is continuing to be led by their offense. Chris Derochie, Craig Martin, and Ryan Edwards are the top three scorers in the KIJHL and are a main reason why the team averages 6.37 goals per game.

Castlegar Rebels: Allowing a league low 113 goals as of right now, the Rebels may be the best bet to knock off the ‘Hawks. Picking up 14 out of a possible 18 points in January, they only allowed 24 goals against and scored over 10 goals in a game three times.

Nelson Leafs: Patrick Martens is back with the Leafs after a stint with the Langley Rivermen of the BCHL. Martens has over a goal per game average and will help this team in the playoffs. Two rookies lead the way offensively in Nik Newman and Brett Norman who both have over 50 points. Six out of the nine games remaining will be against playoff teams.

Spokane Braves: Although the Braves are assured a playoff spot, they would love to climb up to a .500 record. The team has been stellar on home ice of late winning five out of their last seven in Spokane. The Braves are one out of three teams who have only played 43 games to date.

Grand Forks Border Bruins:The ‘Bears were able to get their first point in 2012 in an overtime loss to Kelowna to finish off January. In the remaining seven games, they will play Nelson three times and Spokane twice.

 

Okanagan/Shuswap Conference

Doug Birks Division

Kamloops Storm: One of the hottest team In the Okanagan in January was the Kamloops Storm. They are unbeaten at home in the last four games and will look to seal up home ice advantage for the playoffs if they can hold on to first place. In goal they have a two-headed monster with Wade Moyls and Marcus Beesley who have a combined record of 18-5-1.

Revelstoke Grizzlies: There are two meetings left with the Storm which may play a big factor on who finishes in first spot in the division. The Grizzlies will play four games at the Revelstoke Forum where they have been a force with 19 home wins on the season. The squad has four 20 goal scorers to date.

North Okanagan Knights:The Knights have the best goals against average in the ‘Birks and allowed only nine goals in the last four games in January. They will need some help if they want to catch the second place Grizzlies, but starting off February with five straight home games will help.

Sicamous Eagles: The Eagles will look to turn the page on a two win January. February will be used as a measuring stick for the club, as they will face six teams who all will be in the post-season. With 17 rookies on the roster, they should get a pat on the back on clinching a playoff spot.

Chase Heat:From Feb. 8 and on, the Heat will play-out the schedule against division rivals. Although playoff Hockey will not be in the cards this season, this young Heat team will look to take some momentum into next season where they could have 18 players return.

 

Okanagan Division

osoyoos coyotes:With just five points separating first from fourth place, every game becomes that much more important for the Coyotes. The conference’s best powerplay has scored a powerplay goal in eight-of-nine January games. Defencemen Kam Crawford leads his team and all KIJHL blue liners with 67 points.

Penticton Lakers:It seems like a distant memory when the Lakers were in fourth place. They had a division high seven win January and have put themselves in a position to be the number one seed in the Okanagan Division. Penticton has six players with 10 or more goals on the season.

Princeton Posse: The Posse will play both Penticton and Osoyoos one more time each before seasons end. They have struggled playing those two teams with a combined record of 4-9-1, but somehow have stayed within striking distance. Alex Demchuk and Kurtis Bond both have 50 points or more.

Kelowna Chiefs:With seven games left in the campaign, you cannot count out the Chiefs to finish on top of the division. They have the offensive players that can put fear in opponents, especially Dane Rupert who has put up 77 points to lead the team. The big question mark will be if their two rookie goaltenders can lead them down the stretch.

Summerland Steam: The Steam were able to put up 31 goals in the eight January games. Jordan McCallum, Steve Semenoff and Dylan Burton pace the offense on a nightly basis with all having over 40 points. Seven of the eight February games are against playoff teams.

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