Ice sniper bound for Halifax
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Kootenay Ice sniper Luke Bertolucci is going to Halifax.
The Montrose native was selected to the Team B.C. U16 squad that will represent the province at the 2011 Canada Winter Games February 11-18 in the Nova Scotia capital.
“I think he’s going to be selected to the provincial team,” Kootenay Ice head coach Simon Wheeldon told The Nelson Daily earlier this week, prior to Wednesday’s announcement by B.C. Hockey.
The 5’7”, 160-pound forward has been one of Wheeldon’s most consistent scorers this season, leading the Ice in that department with nine goals and 13 assists. The 22-point total is good enough for 12th spot in B.C. Major Midget League scoring.
Bertolucci, 15, is three points out of fifth spot.
Team B.C. quest for gold begins the opening day of the Games when the province plays Team Quebec. The other team in the pool is Team Nova Scotia.
Team B.C. is looking to improve on its fourth-place finish in the 2007 Canada Games.
To prepare for the national competition, Team B.C. will gather for a three-day camp prior to Christmas, December 20-22 at the Minoru Centre in Richmond.
Team B.C. plays an exhibition game on the final day of camp against the Valley West Hawks of the BCMMHL.
The players on Team B.C. were evaluated following the first three months of the BCMMHL season after being short-listed to 33 following the Male U16 Provincial Camp in July.
HOCKEY NOTES: Bertolucci is the fourth local player to be selected to a B.C. Hockey team heading for Halifax. On the female side, Nelson’s Aimee DiBella, Ella Matteucci of Fruitvale and Cranbrook’s Daley Oddy also earned spots on Team B.C. U18 Girl’s Squad.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
