Kootenay Ice drop pair of close games to open Major Midget season
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Kootenay Ice pushed the Greater Vancouver Canadians to the limit before dropping a pair of tough BC Hockey Major Midget League games this past weekend in Richmond.
Kootenay opened losing 4-1 Saturday before suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 setback Sunday to the Lower Mainland power.
Saturday, Kootenay trailed 2-1 entering the third period before the hosts scored twice in the frame to escape with the win.
The games were the first of the season for the Ice, which opened the season with a bye weekend.
Shawn Campbell scored the lone goal for the Ice.
Tyson Lin scored twice to lead the Canadians.
Sunday, a goal by Brennan Gaytmenn early in the first period stood up as the winner sparking Greater Vancouver to the slim one-goal victory.
Curt Doyle and Ben Kelsch, both of Nelson, shared the netminder duties for Kootenay.
Kootenay ices a lineup consisting of players from throughout the Kootenay region, including players from Castlegar, Trail, Nakusp, Kimberley as well as Vernon, Vancouver and Vanderhoof.
Kootenay returns to action this weekend in Kamloops when the Ice face the Thompson Blazers.
First home action for Kootenay is Saturday, October 17 when the Ice host the Valley West Hawks at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
The teams close out the weekend series Sunday, October 18 at 10 a.m. in Nelson.
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.
The winning team has the opportunity each year to compete for the National Midget Championship.
