Kootenay takes it on the chin as Vancouver NE Chiefs sweep weekend BCMMHL series in Trail
By The Nelson Daily Sports
When the Kootenay Ice plays to the top of its game the team can compete with any team in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League.
But if the Ice decides to take a game off, then don’t look now but the scored may hit double figures.
The Ice experienced a little of both as the squad lost a pair of weekend BCMMHL games to the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs at the Cominco Arena in Trail.
When the Ice competes the score was a respectable 7-5 affair.
However, when the team has a flat game, the scored was not respectable at all as Van City bounced the Ice 11-0.
Saturday, Kootenay looked to be surprisingly in control, leading 3-1 with time running out in the first period on goals by Jeremy McGregor of Christina Lake, Greyson Reitmeier of Nakusp and Castlegar’s Darren Medeiros.
But a goal by Brandon Volpe with three seconds remaining in the frame gave Vancouver all the life it would need as the Chiefs out scored the Ice 5-2 en route to the win.
Medeiros and John Skeet of Christina Lake completed the scoring for Kootenay.
Jamie Waddington and Volpe scored twice while Adam Rockwood had five assists to lead the Vancouver attack.
Sunday, the Chiefs struck for four first period goals on Ice goalie Brett Soles and never looked back.
Soles played both games during the weekend as Kimberley Newell, Kootenay’s other goalies, was at the 2011 National Women’s Under-18 Championships in Saguenay, Que.
Volpe led the Vancouver attack with four goals while Jace Hennig added a pair.
The road doesn’t get any easier for 1-10-1 Kootenay as the squad travels to Burnaby to meet the Vancouver Northwest Giants Saturday and Sunday.
The Giants, 7-3-2, are tied with the Chiefs for third spot in the league.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
