Silvertips rock Kootenay Ice as Major Midget Hockey opens new season
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Obviously not the start head coach Mario DiBella and the Kootenay Ice wanted.
The North Island Silvertips got better as the games progressed as the Island rep stomped the Kootenay Ice 5-1 and 10-2 in B.C. Hockey Major Midget League action this past weekend at the NDCC Arena.
The weekend series was the first games of the season for both teams.
Sunday, Kootenay trailed North Island by a single goal after 20 minutes.
But two special teams goals in the middle frame by Silvertips Nicolais Gomerich — shorthanded — and Patrick Bajkov — his second of three in the game — on the power play was enough to turn the tables against Kootenay.
Joe Surgenor scored twice for North Island with singles going to Curtis McCarrick, Liam Shaw, Grady McInnes and Trent Bell.
Greyson Reitmeier of Nakusp and Dane Elphicke of Castlegar replied for the Ice. North Island held period leads of 2-1 and 6-2.
Saturday, McCarrick snapped a 1-1 tie with his first of the season to lift the Silvertips to the opening-day win.
McInnes, Jordan Topping, Bajkov and Gomerich also scored for North Island.
Trevor Van Steinburg of Cranbrook replied for Kootenay.
Harrison Whitlock of Fruitvale was in goal for the Ice.
Kootenay has a bye week before returning to action Saturday, October 6 in Kelowna to face the Okanagan Rockets in the first of a two-game series.
Next home game is October 27 in Trail when the Thompson Blazers visit the Cominco Arena.
The B.C. Major Midget League began play in 2004. The idea for the league was to provide the elite 15 to 17-year-old players in the province the opportunity to play against the top players with their own age group.
The winner of the league has the chance to advance to the National Midget Championships.
Team Kootenay is a collection of players from Cranbrook to Midway.
