Alex Evin is excited to be back on a bench after a two-month break, that was long enough for him. The Castlegar native spent eight years with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings, where he won the BCHL’s Fred Page Cup in 2019. Evin joked about “getting bored” and the opportunity came to join the Castlegar Rebels for the rest of the season.
“It’s a local team, a team I’ve had respect for growing up as a young kid,” said Evin. “The Rebels are an important part of the community. I couldn’t say no. I’m happy to join the group. They seem like great kids, they have a hard working team and good character. The staff leaves me a lot of potential and that’s a really good thing when you’re taking over a team. That’s what made me take it.”
More on Evin will come in the Rebels section of the KIJHL Notebook.
Eddie Mountain Division
During their current five-game winning streak, Kimberley Dynamiters captain Trey Stephenson said they like how “relentless we’ve been in this stretch.”
“We’re just sticking with the game plan and not wavering when things don’t go well. It’s a next shift, next man up mentality,” said Stephenson. “We’re trying to gear up for the playoffs and treating these last games like playoffs, so nailing down the little details that separates you from the next team.”
Rookie Luke Davies is their points leader with 47 in 36 games and Stephenson said “he’s super dynamic.”
“His overall 200-foot game has been really impressive, and he can play in any situation and is trusted everywhere.”
The Fernie Ghostriders are fresh off a 2-0 win over the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. Assistant captain Eric Martin said it was an important win, especially against an Eddie Mountain division team.
“I think that was a big win for us coming off a good weekend against Grand Forks and Spokane,” he said. “We wanted to keep it going.We’ve been playing more as a team recently and guys are starting to figure out their roles – it took a little bit after the trade deadline.”
The 20-year-old blueliner has been happy with his own play.
“I’ve been trying to work more on my two-way game, playing more defensively and I think I’ve started to piece that together as well, so it’s been good,” said Martin, who is second on the team with 48 points in 37 games, which leads all KIJHL defencemen.
The Columbia Valley Rockies are very happy with their play. This weekend they face Kimberley and Beaver Valley and Noah Asmundson said they are treating those “as playoff games and especially with Kimberley, as we are in the same division.”
“It’s about establishing our playoff hockey and carrying the momentum into the postseason,” he said.
The Rockies had left a roster spot open if the right player became available. And a familiar face did. Jonah Fournier, who has 39 points in 64 career KIJHL games with the Rockies, has been a solid addition.
“He has already been a great guy and leader for the team,” said Asmundson of the 20-year-old.
Asmundson is on a five-game point streak with six points and credits his linemates for his production.
“I benefit from playing with Carter Velker and Carter Hensch, who I have lots of chemistry with,” said the White City, Sask., native. “Personally, holding on and carrying the puck more has helped me create more plays to allow my teammates to find open ice.”
Since Dec. 10, Asmundson has eight goals and 17 points in 14 games. He has 32 points in 34 games.
Chase Bambrick has been enjoying playing for his hometown Creston Valley Thunder Cats.
“When you’re having fun, you tend to play well and contribute,” said Bambrick. “I think that’s been a big part of my performance since joining the team.”
Bambrick, who has played 59 WHL games with a brief BCHL stint, knows what he’s capable of and what makes him successful on the ice.
“I aim to bring an offensive impact from the back end, relying on my experience to play in important situations,” said Bambrick, who has six points in six games. “My goal is to help the team succeed in those critical moments.”
As they battle with the Golden Rockets for the final divisional playoff spot, the 5-11, 185-pound defenceman said they “know what we need to do to make it into the playoffs.”
“We can’t afford to look too far ahead. Every game matters from here on out, and we’re focused on giving our best effort in each one,” he said.
Golden Rockets captain Evan Tsadilas said the team has been playing a lot more coherently since the new year.
“I think everyone realizes that we have the chance to make the playoffs, but it’s going to take the effort from everyone,” he said. “It does feel like playoffs with how important each game is and I believe everyone feels that way. We know that these last regular season games can essentially be do or die for us. We have been putting it all on the line for this final stretch.”
As the captain, he shows leadership by having a personal connection with each player and being their friend.
“I like to lead by example when it comes to on-and off-ice effort, I try to push players to be their best whilst also being at my best.”
Captaining his hometown team means a lot.
“The players are some of my closest friends, so to be their captain is an awesome opportunity,” he said. “Also, being from Golden, having the opportunity to be captain and be in the community, around kids where I was in their shoes when I was younger, is a pretty special thing.”
Neil Murdoch Division
Undefeated in his first seven starts for the Grand Forks Border Bruins, goalie Eric Kahl feels he’s played pretty well for his new team.
“It’s always a transition coming to a new team,” the Saskatoon, Sask., native said. “This is a great organization and Dave Hnatiuk helped me transition really well. The team is just awesome. It’s really strong this year and I’m excited to make a good playoff push.”
With a team goal of allowing 25 shots or less a game, Kahl has only faced more shots than that twice, including a 33-save performance against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
“My defencemen have been unbelievable and the forwards too,” said Kahl, who is 7-0-1 with a 1.99 goals against average and .917 save percentage. “I give all the credit to them. We’re scoring lots of goals, which is awesome as a goalie as there is less pressure. We’ve been rolling lately and I hope we keep it going into the playoffs.”
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks like their play of late with everyone finding their roles and building chemistry.
“Our play seems a lot more fluid than before,” said Hunter Hansen, who leads the team with 36 points in 38 games. “The focus is definitely playing playoff hockey. We are a young team and us veterans are trying to prepare the team for the difference that the playoffs bring.”
Hansen feels he’s playing a consistent game.
“I’m focusing on cutting down mistakes and helping the team any way I can,” he said. “My teammates are definitely the reason I’ve been able to produce.”
Parents weekend gave the Nelson Leafs a boost winning against the Kelowna Chiefs, Spokane Braves and Castlegar Rebels. Captain Leighton Partington said they just have to keep it going.
“We have been playing a lot more simple. Getting shots on net, and not playing as cute as we were before,” said Partington, who played in his 100th career KIJHL game against the Rebels on Feb. 2. “That’s what we have to keep doing.”
Partington has 25 points in 36 games this season and 59 in his career. He’s at his best playing aggressive hockey and considers himself lucky with his linemates the last 10 games.
“They get the puck to the net and I seem to have luck when I’m just standing there,” he said. “Everyone has been playing well. We’re not gripping our sticks as tight.”
Evin, who was an assistant and head coach for the Selkirk College Saints, likes the Rebels group he has taken over. He said whoever they play in the first round, they’re going to be “looked at as an underdog.” Taking on some of those qualities, he said they have to outwork teams. He’s also focused on rounding out their team game, including defensive play and getting them to believe in themselves.
This is the first time Evin, a former goalie who played four years with Colgate University in NCAA, takes over a team late into a season. Despite going winless in his first two games, Evin said the staff gave the players a few principles and things they wanted to see in game and they responded well.
Evin, a BCHL champion as a player and coach, watched them play hard and was impressed with their effort.
Spokane Braves captain Cameron Oien is one point away from matching the 33 he produced as a rookie last season in 38 games. He’s played in 38 this and has 10 goals and 22 assists. Since Nov. 13, in 22 games, Oien has four goals and 16 points.
The Braves announced on Thursday that Owen Ames, 20, has committed to play for the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen in NCAA Division III next season. Ames has 23 points in 30 games this season. More on Ames’ commitment will come on the KIJHL website.
