Thirty-nine teams begin their quest today to become Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) champions.
The championship tournament returns to Penticton for the second straight year and will crown winners in the Midget Prep, Midget Varsity, Elite 15s, Bantam Prep and Bantam Varsity Divisions.
CSSHL chair Andy Oakes said it’s exciting to have all these teams here.
“The league itself has grown over the course of the year,” said Oakes, adding there are 13 programs and 850 athletes and staff. “Very excited. We’re going to see some great hockey and be able to crown some champions.”
Of the players competing, more than 60 are Western Hockey League (WHL) draft picks, including 2015 third overall selection Tyler Popowich (Vancouver Giants) and 20th overall pick Tristen Nielsen (Calgary Hitmen). Eight current players have seen action in the WHL this season, while another 22 have played at least one game in the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL). Over 50 players from the Bantam Prep Division are expected to be selected at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. Oakes said one of the best things for people to understand is this is a league that spans, B.C., Alberta and Idaho and has some great players. They have more than 50 playing in the WHL and more than 100 in the BCHL, AJHL and SJHL. Last year current Penticton Vees players Ben Brar (Yale) Taylor Ward and Griffin Mendel (Okanagan Hockey Academy) played in the championship.
“The talent that they are going to be able to see at the younger age bracket is going to be really strong,” said Oakes.
He believes it will attract more fans as they have seen an increase in ticket sales. He also expects an increase in scouts with more than 100 from the NHL down to junior B level.
“The players are getting an opportunity to be showcased in one spot,” said Oakes.
Oakes, who is also the president of the OHA, said all the divisions are competitive. What has been proven over the season is that anybody can win. Because of that, it will make for great competition when talking about single game knockouts.
“It’s whoever is the best on that day,” said Oakes. “I think you will see the Okanagan teams will be competitive. We’ve won the midget prep division the last two years.”
One team looking to repeat is the Okanagan White team in the Prep Division. The team capped off its regular season with a 6-3 win over the Burnaby Winter Club to finish 24-10-2. Coach Malcolm Cameron said his players are excited for the playoffs, especially because of the adversity they have faced. They haven’t played with a healthy roster since the middle of October.
“Our kids now are a little bit more battle tested than if things would have went smoother,” said Cameron. “I think our kids have built up a self-confidence in themselves that we can win despite obstacles. Our group feels a little bit of pressure because we are the defending champions from last year. It’s also great motivation to try and carry the torch.”
OHA White will try and defend that title with only two returning players — forward Jordan Robinson, third in team scoring with 18 goals and 31 points and goalie Nolan Hildebrand, who won 16 of his 24 games. Popowich is also on the team. The top goal scorer on the team is Keltie Jeri-Leon with 26 goals in 35 games. Cameron said the 16-year-old has had a really good year.
“He’s always been goal scorer, he’s got a real good nose for the net,” said Cameron of the Kelowna product drafted by the Tri City Americans, 93rd overall in the fifth round of the WHL bantam draft. “He’s got a very good shot. He’s got good speed and he’s a big body (five-foot-10, 187 pounds). He’s become a very reliable defensive player. To be good offensively you have to be good defensively. It gives you the chance to get the puck back a lot quicker. I’m very pleased with how he has come along defensively.”
Any success Cameron’s team has will be from its defensive play. Of the eight teams in the playoffs, only two teams have scored fewer than their 122 goals. They have allowed 81.
“We’re really stingy on defence,” said Cameron. “We’ve been blessed with very good goaltending.”
The majority of games will be played out of the South Okanagan Events Centre, OHG Training Centre and Memorial Arena. Select games will be played at McLaren Park Arena, Summerland Arena and Oliver Arena. Schedule can be found on csshl.ca.
People can buy tickets at the SOEC box office. The championship concludes on Sunday.