This Kootenay Ice team is primed for some home cooking
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Kootenay Ice get a taste of some home cooking as the BC Major Midget Hockey League squad hosts its home opening weekend beginning Saturday at the NDCC Arena.
The Ice, 1-4-1 open the season, play host to Valley West Hawks Saturday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
Sunday, puck drop on the second game of the series is at 10 a.m., also in Nelson.
“We are very excited to have our first home games of the year this coming weekend,” said Ice head coach Brian Jones.
Jones assumed the helm of the Good Ship Ice this season after spending the last few years as the assistant coach to Rob Wright.
Kootenay began the season with three consecutive road trips to the Lower Mainland and Kamloops.
Ice dropped a pair of close games to Greater Vancouver Canadians before grabbing three of four points in a weekend set against Thompson Blazers.
Kootenay won 6-3 before playing to a 2-2 draw against the Blazers.
Six different players —Tommy McConnachie of Trail, Hunter Flois of Vanderhoof, Conner Seib of Trail, Kaleb Comishin of Nelson, Shawn Campbell of Castlegar and Caige Sterzer of Kimberley— scored in the opener for Kootenay.
Last weekend Kootenay was in tough against Vancouver Northeast Chiefs, losing 7-3 and 4-0.
McConnachie scored twice and Floris added a single to complete the Ice scoring.
“I like the makeup of our team this year. This is a really good group of kids,” Jones said.
“We were short handed last weekend due to some last minute issues.”
Kootenay is one of 11 teams in the BCMMHL.
The 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.
These teams have an opportunity each year to compete for the National Midget Championship.
