From BC Hockey Now
Withtraining camps and exhibition games in full swing teams in a new look,nine team B.C. Hockey League Interior Conference are getting set foranother run at a championship banner. Along with the new team inWilliams Lake, five new head coaches will be behind Interior Conferencebenches when the regular season begins Sept. 1 with Ed Dempsey inPrince George as the longest serving bench boss.
Here?s a look at the teams in order of the final 2008-09 regular season standings along with the team?s record.
1. Vernon Vipers (42-14-1-3)
TheVipers went all the way to win the RBC Royal Bank Cup last year andreturn a deep talent pool that features Connor and Kellen Jones in whatthe hard-working twins final BCHL season. The Vipers did losenet-minder Andrew Hammond and top defenseman Kyle Bigos along withcaptain Chris Crowell but had 15 players eligible to return, accordingto bchl.bc.ca. ?When you come back from a season like we had, allthat stuff goes out the window,? head coach Mark Ferner told the VernonMorning Star. ?You can?t rest on your laurels ? it?s a new year.? TheVipers are the returning champs of what should be another competitiveyear as nine Interior teams fight for seven playoff spots.
2. Salmon Arm (40-17-1-2)
Theoff season saw the Silverbacks shuffle the coaching deck as RylanFerster handed over the coach?s role to assistant Matt Hughes toconcentrate full time as the ?Backs general manager. Hughes steps tothe bench after 40 wins last season in Salmon Arm and will be lookingto remain a contender in the Interior. Mark Zengerle posted asecond-best 93 points in his rookie BCHL season and is back as a20-year-old to lead the offense. In goal Tony Ierfino was very good last year when he posted a .915 save percentage in going 18-6 largely as a backup and will start the year as the man to beat.
3. Westside (37-18-1-4)
TheMark Howell era in Westside ended after three years with the formerhead coach moving on to the University of Calgary and Merrimackassistant Darren Yopyk taking over. The Warriors will return 13 playersincluding 20-year-old goalie Kevin Jebson and his 27 wins and .909 savepercentage. Trevor Bailey is the highest returning scorer and thereturn of Cam Reid, drafted by Nashville in the NHL Entry Draft in thesummer, will bolster the club?s offense.
4. Penticton (36-17-0-7)
TheVees expect a healthy Denver Manderson to lead the way offensivelywhile the diminutive Garrett Milan has a year under his belt afterputting up a nearly a point per game in playing all 60 last year as arookie. Twenty-year-old Eric Filiou was acquired in an off-season tradewith Nanaimo where he was a point a game player in two seasons. In goalSean Bonnor won 11 games as a rookie backup, posting .908 savepercentage.
5. Prince George Spruce Kings (26-25-3-6)
A threeway deal in early August gave Prince George a top flight offensiveplayer in Brooks Robinson and a partner for returning Sam Muchalla.Robinson went to Alberta before being acquired by the Kings. Muchallahad a career year ended by injury and scored 53 points in 43 games.Coach Ed Dempsey and general manager Mike Hawes signed two yearcontract extensions in the summer.
6. Trail Smoke Eaters (25-31-2-2)
Arookie-laden team last year, the Smoke Eaters will be better for justthe experience gained in an up and down season. Forty point man PaulMailey was named captain in the off season while newcomer Colin Lidsterwill bring size to the equation. Devon Murtagh, acquired from Westside,and Paul Barclay will battle for minutes in goal.
7. Quesnel Millionaires (16-40-0-4)
Mostof the news surrounding the Quesnel Millionaires was off ice thissummer. Glen Watson was hired as the new head coach after Tom Bohmerdeparted near the end of last season. A new ownership group purchasedthe club and is working on a new arena deal. On the ice Trevor Hertz isthe top returning ofensive player while Taylor Holst was acquired in alate summer deal. Twenty-year-old Eliot Raibl will be counted on toanchor the defense.
8. Merritt Centennials (13-44-0-3)
Anothertumultuous year for Merritt last season saw longtime coach AlGlendinning out after the season. When hired-coach Joey Bouchard leftthe Cents just weeks before training camp brothers Dylan and TylerForsythe brought Alberta and Manitoba junior A expereince to try andright the ship as the team?s head coach and general managerrespectively. On the ice the Cents should be better with plenty ofplayers returning from its team last year and from plenty of futureconsideration deals down the stretch last year.
Withtraining camps and exhibition games in full swing teams in a new look,nine team B.C. Hockey League Interior Conference are getting set foranother run at a championship banner. Along with the new team inWilliams Lake, five new head coaches will be behind Interior Conferencebenches when the regular season begins Sept. 1 with Ed Dempsey inPrince George as the longest serving bench boss.
Here?s a look at the teams in order of the final 2008-09 regular season standings along with the team?s record.
1. Vernon Vipers (42-14-1-3)
TheVipers went all the way to win the RBC Royal Bank Cup last year andreturn a deep talent pool that features Connor and Kellen Jones in whatthe hard-working twins final BCHL season. The Vipers did losenet-minder Andrew Hammond and top defenseman Kyle Bigos along withcaptain Chris Crowell but had 15 players eligible to return, accordingto bchl.bc.ca. ?When you come back from a season like we had, allthat stuff goes out the window,? head coach Mark Ferner told the VernonMorning Star. ?You can?t rest on your laurels ? it?s a new year.? TheVipers are the returning champs of what should be another competitiveyear as nine Interior teams fight for seven playoff spots.
2. Salmon Arm (40-17-1-2)
Theoff season saw the Silverbacks shuffle the coaching deck as RylanFerster handed over the coach?s role to assistant Matt Hughes toconcentrate full time as the ?Backs general manager. Hughes steps tothe bench after 40 wins last season in Salmon Arm and will be lookingto remain a contender in the Interior. Mark Zengerle posted asecond-best 93 points in his rookie BCHL season and is back as a20-year-old to lead the offense. In goal Tony Ierfino was very good last year when he posted a .915 save percentage in going 18-6 largely as a backup and will start the year as the man to beat.
3. Westside (37-18-1-4)
TheMark Howell era in Westside ended after three years with the formerhead coach moving on to the University of Calgary and Merrimackassistant Darren Yopyk taking over. The Warriors will return 13 playersincluding 20-year-old goalie Kevin Jebson and his 27 wins and .909 savepercentage. Trevor Bailey is the highest returning scorer and thereturn of Cam Reid, drafted by Nashville in the NHL Entry Draft in thesummer, will bolster the club?s offense.
4. Penticton (36-17-0-7)
TheVees expect a healthy Denver Manderson to lead the way offensivelywhile the diminutive Garrett Milan has a year under his belt afterputting up a nearly a point per game in playing all 60 last year as arookie. Twenty-year-old Eric Filiou was acquired in an off-season tradewith Nanaimo where he was a point a game player in two seasons. In goalSean Bonnor won 11 games as a rookie backup, posting .908 savepercentage.
5. Prince George Spruce Kings (26-25-3-6)
A threeway deal in early August gave Prince George a top flight offensiveplayer in Brooks Robinson and a partner for returning Sam Muchalla.Robinson went to Alberta before being acquired by the Kings. Muchallahad a career year ended by injury and scored 53 points in 43 games.Coach Ed Dempsey and general manager Mike Hawes signed two yearcontract extensions in the summer.
6. Trail Smoke Eaters (25-31-2-2)
Arookie-laden team last year, the Smoke Eaters will be better for justthe experience gained in an up and down season. Forty point man PaulMailey was named captain in the off season while newcomer Colin Lidsterwill bring size to the equation. Devon Murtagh, acquired from Westside,and Paul Barclay will battle for minutes in goal.
7. Quesnel Millionaires (16-40-0-4)
Mostof the news surrounding the Quesnel Millionaires was off ice thissummer. Glen Watson was hired as the new head coach after Tom Bohmerdeparted near the end of last season. A new ownership group purchasedthe club and is working on a new arena deal. On the ice Trevor Hertz isthe top returning ofensive player while Taylor Holst was acquired in alate summer deal. Twenty-year-old Eliot Raibl will be counted on toanchor the defense.
8. Merritt Centennials (13-44-0-3)
Anothertumultuous year for Merritt last season saw longtime coach AlGlendinning out after the season. When hired-coach Joey Bouchard leftthe Cents just weeks before training camp brothers Dylan and TylerForsythe brought Alberta and Manitoba junior A expereince to try andright the ship as the team?s head coach and general managerrespectively. On the ice the Cents should be better with plenty ofplayers returning from its team last year and from plenty of futureconsideration deals down the stretch last year.
