Skip to content

OHA Red looks for consistency in CSSHL playoffs

OHA midget prep Red coach Robert Dirk is after consistent play heading into the CSSHL playoffs
web1_170310-PWN-OHA-Robert-Dirk
Robert Dirk, coach of the Okanagan Hockey Academy midget prep Red team, heads into the Canadian Sport School Hockey League playoffs, March 13 to 19 at the South Okanagan Events Centre, as one of the top squads in their division. Submitted photo

Heading into the Canadian Sport School Hockey League playoffs Monday, Robert Dirk wants his team to play a consistent game.

“The big thing with his group we talked about is playing with passion for 60 minutes,” said Dirk, who coaches the Okanagan Hockey Academy Midget Prep Red squad. “I’ve got a talented group this year. When they want to play they are very good. Sometimes they get bored. They will play 30 minutes or 20 minutes and that’s good enough to win. Passion and execution, that’s what we like to see going into playoffs.”

Okanagan Red is 23-4-1 heading into their final two regular season games Friday and Sunday. They will finish no worse than second. Dirk said statistically, their season has been very good. He also said like any other hockey club in any other league, there has been some good days and not so good days. The OHA is coming off a 6-2 loss to the Pursuit of Excellence.

Success Dirk said, will come from three things — goaltending, defensive play and specialty teams.

Dirks group is also the oldest in the Midget Prep division with 15 of the 19 players born in 1999.

“It’s good with their experience at that level. They don’t panic when they get behind a goal or two,” he said. “On the flip side, some are thinking what is going to happen next year?”

Some players are still hoping for junior hockey commitments. As of now, seven players are committed to make the jump to the BCHL. There may be more. He said it is likely all the players will play at either junior B, A or major junior.

The OHA Red squad also has Penticton Minor Hockey products in Carson Erhardt (15 goals, 23 points in 26 games), goalie Adam Evanoff (14-3-1, two shutouts, 2.53 goals against average and .916 save percentage) and captain Simon Snyman on defence (five goals, 17 points in 28 games.) Like their teammates, Dirk said the trio has played really well at times and could be better other times.

Dirk’s squad is also dealing with injuries and illness. However, once the division is down to its final eight teams for playoffs, he said it is a matter of getting on a roll.

“Could we win?” he said. “Yeah. Any one of them could win the whole thing. It’s going to be an interesting five days.”

The CSSHL playoffs will showcase more than 900 student-athletes over the seven days. Over 80 student-athletes competing are WHL draft picks, including 2016 third overall selection Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants), fifth overall pick Josh Williams (Medicine Hat Tigers) and five other first-round selections. Twelve current athletes have seen action in the WHL this season, while over 20 have played at least one game in the BCHL or AJHL.

There will be 49 teams in action in Midget Prep, Midget Varsity, Elite 15s, Bantam Prep and Bantam Varsity Divisions. The action begins at 8:15 a.m. on Monday morning and runs until Sunday afternoon. Schedule will be finalized once regular season concludes on March 12.

The championship is hosted by Penticton for the third straight year with the majority of games played out of the South Okanagan Events Centre, Okanagan Hockey Training Centre and Memorial Arena. A limited amount of games will be played at Summerland Arena and Oliver Arena.

Championship Games schedule:

Bantam Varsity: 1:15pm, Thursday, March 16 (OHTC)

Midget Varsity: 3:45pm, Friday, March 17 (OHTC)

Bantam Prep: 8:15am, Sunday, March 19 (OHTC)

Midget Prep: 10:45am, Sunday, March 19 (OHTC)

Elite 15s: 1:15pm, Sunday, March 19 (OHTC)