As the junior B season progresses, things will likely get increasingly awkward between four employees at KirbyB次元官网网址檚 Source for Sports on Cloverdale Avenue.
Brody Coulter, Mark Walton, Sam Johnston and Sam McMullen all carry equal roles within the store. They stock shelves, sharpen skates, help customers and handle front desk sales.
But on the ice, theyB次元官网网址檙e on opposing sides of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 biggest rivalry in 2012-13.
captained the Victoria Cougars to provincial championship last year and is poised to finish that mission with B.C.B次元官网网址檚 No. 1 ranked team. is an assistant captain and is exploding offensively.
and are in their third years with the Braves and are part of the on the Island. They too have improved offensively, but also carry heavy defensive roles for their team. The Braves have cut themselves a clear position above the rest of the league, but have yet to prove they are on par with the Cougars.
And thatB次元官网网址檚 where the fun with these four begins.
If the Cougars or Braves are to win the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League championship, theyB次元官网网址檒l have to go through each other.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a divisional playoff format because of the expansion teams, so assuming we both get through the first round, weB次元官网网址檒l meet in the semifinals,B次元官网网址� said Johnston.
Until then, the foursome says itB次元官网网址檚 not a big deal to work together. All of them were on shift two days prior to the CougarsB次元官网网址� 7-1 drubbing of the Braves on Dec. 20.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a pretty good deal to work here, because we get our game days off,B次元官网网址� Coulter said.
B次元官网网址淎round here weB次元官网网址檙e all buddies. If we play the (Braves), and win, we try not to rub it in too much.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲hen we play each other, itB次元官网网址檚 kind of like playing your brother,B次元官网网址� Johnston said. B次元官网网址淚f anything itB次元官网网址檚 more fun B次元官网网址� you compete harder.B次元官网网址�
Naturally, the conversations at work have their barriers. Injuries are the No. 1 no-go zone, a place neither team wants the other to know about, though itB次元官网网址檚 blatantly obvious the Braves are hurting right now. There were five midget affiliates in the Braves lineup for the Dec. 20 game.
B次元官网网址淲e hire these guys because we know they have a strong work ethic to get where they are as junior players,B次元官网网址� said KirbyB次元官网网址檚 store manager Sean Tackaberry, a Cougars alumni from 12 years ago.
The re-aligned VIJHL will feature a wildcard game for the final playoff spot. The last-place team from the North division will play the last-place team from the South division.
As of the holiday break, that meeting seems predetermined as the Kerry Park Islanders versus the Campbell River Storm.
The date is already set for Feb. 17.
VIJHL name All-Star squads
This yearB次元官网网址檚 VIJHL All-Star and prospects games are Jan. 13 in Parksville, hosted by the Oceanside Generals.
Former teammates Travis Oickle and Max Mois will once again suit up on the same team when the two South Division all-stars attend the 2013 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League All-Star Classic in Parksville on Jan. 13.
Mois was traded last month from the Westshore Wolves to the Saanich Braves, and will represent the latter in the All-Star Classic. Oickle, who holds the distinction of having played for the now-defunct former Westshore Stingers, will represent the expansion Wolves.
Leading the list on the SouthB次元官网网址檚 All-Star team is the first-place Victoria Cougars with six players: forwards Brody Coulter, Sam Rice and Mark Walton, defencemen Graham Zagrodney and Jacob Stolz, and goalie Evan Roch. Cougars coach Mark Van Helvoirt will lead the bench.
The Saanich Braves are second with five players, forwards Mois, Ty Jones and Josh Gray, defenceman Garett Kemmler and goalie Tanner McGaw.
Joining Oickle from the Wolves is forward Josh Bloomenthal and defenceman Chris McDonald. Peninsula Panthers players going are forwards Cole Golka and Josh Adkins, and defenceman Cody Breitenstein. Former Panthers star Kyle Peterson leads the trio of Kerry Park Islanders with F Alex Milligan and D Colton Burt.
Full rosters at
