After 90 games, the Cariboo Cougars remain atop the standings board after beating the second-place Vancouver Northwest Giants twice over the weekend. With a 15-2-1 record, the Cougars are also leading the league in Goals For (97), showing off their offensive firepower. Catch up on all the news around the Major Midget League with this Week 9 recap.
Valley West Hawks vs. Vancouver Northeast Chiefs
Game 1: Valley West 4, Vancouver NE 1
Game 2: Valley West 4, Vancouver NE 3
Valley West opened the scoring with a goal from Christian Bosa in the first period, and continued with goals from James Malm and Justin De Vos in the second period. The Chiefs’ Caleb Fantillo responded in the third, but the Hawks’ Malm got a second goal with less than a minute remaining to seal the deal for Valley West. Valley West managed to complete the sweep on away ice, with the second game held at Planet Ice Coquitlam. Ziyan Karim, San Chung, and Caleb Fantillo scored for the Chiefs, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Hawks. Valley West got goals from Jeffrey Stewart, Ian Ross, Trevor Ayre, and Daniel Watson.
Greater Vancouver Canadians vs. Thompson Blazers
Game 1: Greater Vancouver 9, Thompson 0
Game 2: Greater Vancouver 7, Thompson 1
Greater Vancouver exploded for nine (9) goals in their first game against Thompson, with Tyson Lin picking up the hat trick, and Kyle Uy, Ryan Wilkinson, Justin Schwartz (2), Michael Tilbury, and Henry Hyun Rhyu also assisting the Canadians’ attack. Game 2 was a very similar story for Greater Vancouver, with the team scoring seven (7) goals to Thompson’s one (1). This time is was Wilkinson who got the hat trick, with Uy, Rhyu, Samuel Atkins, and Matheson Kroeker chipping in. Zac Austin scored the lone goal for the Blazers.
Cariboo Cougars vs. Vancouver Northwest Giants
Game 1: Cariboo 5, Vancouver NW 1
Game 2: Cariboo 4, Vancouver NW 1
This much-anticipated battle in Prince George featured the two (2) teams at the top of the league standings. Cariboo established their dominance by winning both games handily. Game 1 saw Cariboo open the scoring with a short-handed goal from Austin Gray, who later in the game completed the hat trick. Colton Thomas and Darren Hards also scored for the Cougars, while the Giants’ only goal came from Josh Latta. Game 2 was a similar story, with Ryland Chernomaz getting the only goal for the Giants, and Wesley Shipton, Steven Jandric, and Thomas (2) scoring for the Cougars.
Fraser Valley Thunderbirds vs. Okanagan Rockets
Game 1: Fraser Valley 2, Okanagan 4
Game 2: Fraser Valley 3, Okanagan 4
Fraser Valley and Okanagan met in Abbotsford for the weekend, with the Rockets picking up some valuable points on the road. In Game 1, MacKenzie Wight and Davin Padgham scored for the T-Birds, while Brett Witala, Marcus Mitchell, Brandon Whistle, and Kaden Black scored for the Rockets. In Game 2, Fraser Valley had the lead after two periods thanks to goals from Padgham, Marshall Skapski, and Brice Sharp, while Okanagan’s goals were scored by Witala and Jeffret Schlegel. Trailing 3-2 going into the third period, Okanagan managed to net two (2) goals – Whistle scored to tie it up, and Levi Johnson picked up the game winner with less than three (3) minutes remaining.
North Island Silvertips vs. Kootenay Ice
Game 1: North Island 2, Kootenay 2
Game 2: North Island 5, Kootenay 3
The Ice made the long trip to Nanaimo the face off against the Silvertips, and came away with a tie after Game #1. Darian Harris and Sage Lim scored for North Island, while Kootenay’s goals came from Tanner Costa and Kadrian Klimchuk. In Game 2, the Silvertips got a bit more offensive firepower, and scored five (5) goals – Brett Stapley, Owen Hardy, Trey Watson, Brett Kinley, and Harris assisted in the scoring efforts, while Shawn Campbell and Klimchuk (2) scored for the Ice.
The BC Hockey Major Midget League was established in 2004 to provide elite level 15, 16 and 17 year olds an opportunity to play within their own age group at a high level and be developed for the next level of hockey. These teams have an opportunity each year to compete for the National Midget Championship.
