The BCHL Report is a weekly look at the British Columbia Hockey League. In this edition we take a look at each team’s start to the season.
Alberni Valley (4-4-1-0) – Kevin Willison’s Bulldogs are at .500 through the first nine games despite sitting six goals under even in goal differential. Only Penticton and West
Kelowna have less penalty minutes served than the clean-living boys from Alberni Valley. With 14 rookies listed on the active roster, I’d have to say that Willison is pretty content with his team’s start.
Chilliwack (5-3-0-0) – After meeting the Chiefs head coach in Las Vegas over the summer one thing was made very clear to me; Jason Tatarnic is serious about winning. Getting blown out by Surrey last week must have sent the bench boss to church with hopes of figuring out just what went wrong. I do know this; never expect anything but the best from Tatarnic’s Chiefs.
Coquitlam (3-5-0-1) – Head Coach Barry Wolff and the Express will have to keep their foot on the gas if there is any hope of keeping up with the high-flying duo from Wenatchee and Chilliwack. Winning just a third of the games is certainly not going to cut it in this division.
Cowichan Valley (6-2-1-0) – Bob Beatty’s Capitals hot start to the season demonstrates the luxury of carrying a veteran roster into the new season. Only four rookies have made their way onto Beatty’s lineup.
Langley (2-5-0-1) – Head Coach Bobby Henderson has a tremendous recruiting advantage with the family business that is Global Hockey, so why do we have to talk about a sub-par start to the season? The Rivermen are carrying eleven rookies into the season, so that has to be a contributing factor. With that said, I can’t help but wonder if we should be expecting more.
Merritt (4-3-0-1) – Head Coach Joe Martin guided the Cents to a 23-30-4-1 record in his first year and expectations have risen for this season. So far his charges are delivering.
Nanaimo (4-5-0-0) – Head Coach Mike Vandekamp’s Clippers find themselves at the bottom of the division after the first nine games of the season. With only two rookies on the roster, the expectations were much higher.
Penticton (7-0-1-0) – The sun rises in the east, sets in the west and Head Coach Fred Harbinson’s Vees are sitting on top of the division. Ten rookies? No problem for the Vees. Rebuilding year? Yea right, the Vees simply reloaded.
Powell River (6-4-0-0) – Head Coach Kent Lewis has seven BCHL Finals appearances to go along with seven Coastal Conference Championships. I think he knows a thing or two about success. Something else… the Kings are playing with a full deck of veteran players. No rookies. Frankly, I’m surprised Powell River has lost four of the first ten.
Prince George (3-5-0-1) – Chad van Diemen is into his second year as the PG bench boss and now has 2016 RBC Cup champ Brett Mennear to provide leadership. The Spruce Kings had a tough homestand against Wenatchee but played Penticton tough and have an impressive win over Cowichan Valley to build on.
Salmon Arm (2-6-0-0) – Brandon West’s squad got some positive momentum after a slow start with two wins at the Bauer BCHL Showcase. Trying to carry a dozen rooks into the jaws of the BCHL is never going to be easy, but more is expected of the Silverbacks than winning 25% of the games.
Surrey (1-6-1-0) – Blaine Neufeld goes into his third season at the helm of the Eagles with high hopes. With eight rookies on the books, Surrey has had a rough start. That 8-2 win over the Chiefs was certainly an eye-opener and maybe a sign of things to come.
Trail (2-5-1-0) – Head Coach Cam Keith’s first stint in the BCHL is off to a better start than the record appears. Taking Penticton to double OT on Saturday was a great sign that the future looks positive.
Vernon (5-3-1-0) – Mark Ferner and Vipers know how to get the job done. Vernon is simply a machine. With just four rookies on the list, it’s no wonder why Vernon is off to a good start.
Victoria (5-1-2-2) – Craig Didmon’s Grizzlies are loaded with veterans and that’s all the explanation needed for their record. I see the Grizz making waves again this season.
Wenatchee (6-0-1-0) – Bliss Littler is the master of the game. Winners in six of the first seven, unbeaten in regulation time, and ranked in CJHL Top 5. Wild are not letting up after a fast start this season. Just ask the Silverbacks.
West Kelowna (4-3-0-0) – Kelowna is deadly serious about the game of hockey. Head Coach Rylan Ferster and Warriors delivers an exceptional product night after night. Ferster led the franchise to their first Interior Division Championship in 2015-16, followed by a BCHL Championship, Western Canada Cup Championship and RBC Cup National Championship. The bar has been raised high and the team has been reloaded with ten rookies.
