A total of 14 former British Columbia Hockey League players suited up in the 2011 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League's Championship Final on Sunday evening at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre in Burnaby, with BCHL grads Patrik Martin, Christopher Hoe, Colby Kulhanek, Kyle Leung, and Justin Mulholland leading Simon Fraser University to their second consecutive Provincial title.
Pitted against Kamloops-based Thompson Rivers University in the league final for the second year in a row, SFU scored four power-play goals en route to a 5-2 victory. Colby Kulhanek, who played his final season of junior hockey in what is now SFU's home rink as a member of the Burnaby Express, assisted on Bill Smith's first period tally, while Christopher Hoe, a two-year member of the Salmon Arm SilverBacks, notched a helper on the third period game-winner by team captain Paul Moscone.
Mulholland, a former Surrey Eagle and an all-star in his two BCIHL seasons, stood tall in net for Simon Fraser in allowing just a pair of goals on 28 shots.
Thompson Rivers University iced nine former BCHL products, including captain Korey Gannon (Vernon Vipers), defencemen Darcy Huisman (Powell River Kings), Joel Leonard (Quesnel Millionaires), Zac Rasmussen (Prince George Spruce Kings) and Tyler Halliday (Merritt Centennials). Huisman was named to the league's Second All-Star team in his rookie season after leading all BCIHL defencemen with 30 points.
TRU had edged out the Clan for the league's regular season title after posting a record of 19-4-1, one point better than SFU.
Overall, 31 former B.C. Hockey League players competed in the BCIHL during the 2010/11 season. For more information on the league, visit www.bcihl.ca.
