- This story was updated to correct the date of the Prospects Game as Sunday.
The Saanich Braves are ready to show the league they are a class organization, an original franchise playing in the same rink from 50 years ago.
The puck drops at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27, for the VIJHL Prospects Game at Pearkes Arena.
Representing the Braves are Reid Lindsay, an 18-year-old defenceman who has played 15 games with the Victoria Grizzlies and 18 games with the Braves. So are forward Zack Guerra, third in Braves scoring with 16 goals and 12 assists, forward Ryan Strange, (23 points), defenceman Jake King, the only 17-year-old out of the bunch who has 21 points, and Braves starting goalie Connor Cheyne. Other than King, the group are all 18 years old.
ItB次元官网网址檚 an interesting situation for Cheyne, who gets just one sweet period to play in.
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B次元官网网址淵ou want to face a few shots to show what you can do, to get a few saves in and get into the game,B次元官网网址� said Cheyne.
The Peninsula Minor Hockey product debuted with one period for the Braves in the VIJHL last year, having finished high school as part of the Spectrum hockey academy.
This year the six-foot-three goalie has a 9-7 record (as of Jan. 18) and a goal of playing as much hockey as he can, and hopefully parlaying that into a spot on a college team.
B次元官网网址淲hen I heard about the Prospects Game I thought B次元官网网址極K maybe thatB次元官网网址檚 a good way to get my name out there,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Cheyne, who has put off post-secondary for now.
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Last year it took all of about 18 seconds for the first hit of the Prospects Game to be thrown, according to Braves coach Sam Waterfield.
B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 a hockey game, more than an all-star game, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot on the line,B次元官网网址� Waterfield said.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e heard from guys who played last year that itB次元官网网址檚 a pretty good game,B次元官网网址� said King. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be ready to play.B次元官网网址�
Will there be scouts in the stands to watch the prospects? Maybe. Most of the local Junior A clubs are playing that weekend while the coaching staff are also already familiar with the players in the VIJHL, Waterfield said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to say, they do watch online. Certainly if you want to advance your career, youB次元官网网址檒l take it serious.B次元官网网址�
The Prospects Game, and the previous All-Star Game in Campbell River on Jan. 20, are good motivators for those Braves attending. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a tumultuous season for the Braves. Following a sizzling 12-0 start, the Braves regressed back to .500 with a slump to open to the new year. With a core of veterans who made it to Game 7 of the 2018 VIJHL championship final, it may just be a matter of flicking on the switch in February.
B次元官网网址淵eah there was a bit of a slump in November but weB次元官网网址檝e pulled together as a team,B次元官网网址� Cheyne said. B次元官网网址淲e started great but then everyone in the league got better [as the season progressed].B次元官网网址�
Representing the Saanich Braves at the All-Star Game are Dale McCabe, Gavin Grewal, Jake Wilhelm and Evan Abgrail.
