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Quesnel head coach thinks his team will match up well

Team has mix of size and skills that will keep them in games – speed questionable
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Quesnel is hosting the Midget Tier 2 Provincials at West Fraser Centre, March 17-22. Goalie Jakob Drapeau and Leif Scott, #16, will figure in the home-town squads success. Local head coach Gord Salmons expects Quesnel will be in the mix. MELANIE LAW PHOTO

The City of Quesnel will be buzzing with excitement during Spring Break as the Quesnel & District Minor Hockey Association hosts the Midget Tier 2 Provincials, March 17-22.

The West Fraser Centre should be packed with fans as the games determine the best Tier 2 Midget hockey team in the province.

Seven teams are in the running for the provincial crown – Fort St. John, Thompson Zone, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Cowichan Valley, Prince George and the home-town Quesnel squad.

(Check the schedule and other information on pages A9-A12.)

The Midget players – 15-17 years old – will be skating hard and playing their best calibre of hockey. Organizers are expecting to see some hockey scouts in the arena during the tournament.

The tourney is a true preliminary round-robin format: each team plays the other teams once. The squads with the best two records advance to the championship game.

There are no semifinals or bronze medal games at this level.

Coach comments

Head coach Gord Salmons says the team is looking forward to the provincials.

“The boys are excited and a little nervous. Last night, we had a practice and everybody was gripping their stick a little bit.

“I think they are expecting some big crowds, especially at the first game, and they’re a little bit nervous. But it’ll be fun and it’ll be good for them.”

If they have a good first game – and they should, Salmons says – he thinks people will keep coming back.

“As long as we’re doing good, people will be interested.”

The coach says he thinks the teams are going to be competitive and Quesnel is going to be right there with them.

“From what I’ve been seeing… Prince George is going to be one of the stronger teams and we’re right there with them.”

This year, Prince George has had a slightly better record, but the games were close. Quesnel lost to them in the playoffs, but in a shoot-out.

“If we come to play and play like we can, I like our chances.”

Salmons says the team has some big kids and they like to be physical and they also have some skilled players.

“If teams want to play a physical game with us, we would like that.”

“Defensively, we’ll try to clear them out of our slot and make some good outlet passes from our end.

“Offensively, we’ve been practising our entries and we have to get the puck on net – anything can happen – a bounce, tip or rebound.”

Salmons expects to see a few Junior B scouts during the tournament and he says the talent pool is there for some players to move on.

Business end

Samantha Wright, who is the event host co-chair with Gerry Ortner, says they have a great group of volunteers, but if anyone is looking to help, they can contact her at samantha.wright@westfraser.com.

“Planning is almost done. Midgets are much easier than younger kids, as they require much less pomp and circumstance.

“We are just looking to provide well-organized, safe, great hockey in an absolutely awesome new venue!

“We are so lucky to live in Quesnel.”

The business community has answered the call and given game sponsorship,as well as all kinds of other sponsorship to the event. West Fraser sponsored the entire cost of the banquet.

“I hope that bringing six teams to our city will help to make up some of the tourism lost due to the wildfires. It is this reason why our bid to host was successful, I think.”

Quesnel games

Opening ceremonies are in West Fraser Centre at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday (March 18).

That will be followed by Quesnel taking on Port Moody at 7:15 p.m.

Quesnel faces off against Prince George on Monday (March 19) at 4:15 p.m.

On March 20, the host team has two games – Cowichan Valley at 8 a.m. and Kamloops at 4:15 p.m.

On March 21, Quesnel takes on Coquitlam at 7:15 p.m.

The host team faces off against Fort St. John on March 22 at 1:30 p.m.

The championship game will be held at 7:30 on March 22.

Wright says having Quesnel playing in the provincials is “super exciting.”

“This is a pretty important event. There will be quite a few scouts from higher levels of hockey coming out to see the players put on a great show.

“So to have our local kids playing is really fantastic.”