Border Bruins Win Two of Three on Opening Weekend
By Gerry Foster
It was billed as the return of the ice age as the Grand Forks junior hockey team launched their new season on the weekend with three games at home.
For the fans it was one of the most entertaining weekends in a long time; if this is an indication of things to come we are in for some exciting hockey during this 2014-15 season.
On Friday the 100 Mile House Wranglers made their very first appearance in Grand Forks a winning one as they defeated the locals 4-2. After a scoreless first period the teams split four goals in the middle frame. The deadlock was broken midway through the third when Micky Turner of the Wranglers scored a shorthanded marker. They added an empty netter with seconds remaining.
Matt Lucero and Michael Rand notched the Bruins goals as they outshot 100 Mile House 48-40.
The Spokane Braves invaded the Jack Goddard Arena on Saturday with the Border Bruins jumping out to a 3-0 lead, however, their US rivals stormed back with three unanswered goals of their own. Grand Forks regained the upper hand with a goal late in the middle stanza and notched insurance markers in the third for a 6-3 victory.
Max Newton, one of the Bruins returning players, led all scorers with a goal and four assists. Less than 24 hours later Newton would again put on a show.
The Castlegar Rebels were the victims this time as the 16-year-old from Vancouver tallied two goals and two assists to lead his team to its second win of the young season. He sits atop the 20 team KIJHL in scoring in this young season with nine points.
Lincoln Lane also lit up the score sheet with a pair of goals and four helpers.
The goaltending was solid for Grand Forks. Jacob Mullen, from Coeur D’Alene, Idaho was between the pipes in two of the games and Kiernan Matsuba (Spruce Grove, Alberta) started the other game for the Bruins. Both are playing their first year here and look like they belong.
Loose pucks
The player rosters in the Bruins-Spokane game revealed that 31 communities in North America were represented in the game. Now that’s an impressive stat!
Another reason to support junior hockey in our community……It was a positive debut for new Head Coach, Brad Snyder, who comes from Flin Flon, Manitoba…..the attendance at the three games was good but still a lot of great seats available; the next home game is Sept. 26th when the Bears once again play host to Spokane….one can say with certainty that those who stayed home missed three very good hockey games.
The Border Bruins now head out on the road for four games in five days; they will make stops in Chase, Sicamous and Revelstoke before finishing the road swing in Nelson….the team has produced a 24 page Souvenir program for this season.
It is available at all home games and copies can be found in places around town. It includes articles on the early history of hockey in the Boundary area and one on the inspiring story of Hall of Famer Mickey MacKay.
