Top Line Guns
For any team in the BCHL to succeed they need a top line that puts fear into their opponent. Looking at the Mainland Division, there are some top units that do in fact cause the opposition to scheme defensively just for them.
Darcy Oakes, Clay Harvey and Brooks Robinson compose the first line for the Powell River Kings and theirs is the most proficient offensive line in the league. Oakes leads the BCHL in scoring with 27 points, Harvey is tied for fourth with 23 points and Robinson has brought 21 points to the line.
Rack that up and they have 71 points in just 16 games between them. Not bad to start a season. No wonder they are in the running for the Mainland Division lead.
Powell River’s “second” line can score as well. Erik Vos has 20 points, Kyle Bodie 18 and Chad Niddery 14.
The Langley Chiefs are next on the list of top gunners. Derek Grant leads their group with Milros Gordic and Trevor Elias. Grant has 24 points in just 10 games; Gordic has been in on 19 and Elias 18 points. That makes 61 points for the Chief’s top line.
Now lets get to the Burnaby Express and the Surrey Eagles. Now if you look at the Express they have traditionally had one really dominant line that was hard to contain. This season they have the players but haven’t filled the net. Brodie Reid has been injured but has 6 points in 5 games, while Max Grassi has 13 points.
In the Eagles’ nest goals have also been hard to come by. Adam Hartley leads the team and is part of the top line for the club with 18 points. Brennan Strang has chipped in with 13 points and the third member of their line has changed for a number of games.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks have the second highest scoring line as of the date of this blog at 70 points. It just goes to show that if a team wants to have success they need to have at least one line that can score goals at a high rate.
When you are going to a game and the opposition has one or two lines that can score they create open, exciting hockey. Please don’t take for granted when your team has some guys who can put “biscuit in the basket”.
Don’t forget to tune into BCHL Live every Tuesday evening from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm live from Amber Jack’s Taphouse at the Compass Point Inn in Surrey.
ctiggelaar@surreyeagles.ca
