The Terrace Midget minor hockey team is hosting provincials here in Terrace this year, an event that will draw the best ten Midget teams in the province to compete at the Terrace Sportsplex in March.
A tier three team ages 15-17, the Terrace Midgets claimed gold at a tier two tournament (one level up) in Prince George at the end of November and earned two silver medals at similar tournaments in Salmon Arm and Quesnel in October.
Zones will be in Kitimat at the end of February, and the team has a bye to provincials here on March 18-23.
Coach Rob Bell says the goal is to win provincials and the chances to win are as good as any of the top teams.
“From my past experience and from what I see of this team, I think we have a good chance of winning,” he said, adding that he’s been to provincials before and has seen the level of hockey there.
Caption: Conor Watt and Greg Kennedy, fight for the puck against Quesnel players in a game earlier this season.
Terrace Midgets have battled through many tight games in the tournaments so far, and developed a strong defence which has helped carry them through, Bell said.
“Our ability to protect our lead (was key),” said Bell. “We played a lot of close games, or tie games where we earned a lead and managed to hold onto it.... It’s not easy to do.”
But of course, that lead was first earned by the forwards, and Bell said the balanced skill of the team is really a key part of their success.
“It’s very well-balanced and everybody contributes,” Bell said. “I’ve coached lots of teams and that’s not always the case.”
Even though most of the team is on the younger end, ages 15-16, many of the players competed together at the Bantam level last year, where the team won zones.
Caption: Terrace Midgets claimed gold at a tier two tournament, one level above them, in Prince George at the end of November. Standing in back row are coach Rob Bell, players Greg Kennedy, Brad Zagar, Quinn Mulder, Jayson Kawinsky, Gianni Cormano, Ethan Drew, and co-coach Dave Kawinsky. Squished in the middle are Trevor Ebeling and Rhone Mann. In front are Carson Olson, Brandon Onstein, Josh Fernandez, Clayton Rose, Cameron Rothwell, Mark Fisher, Conor Watt, and AJ Desousa.
Ultimately, Bell says the crucial component is the dynamic and attitude of the team and how they work together.
“It all comes down to chemistry,” he said. “If you have a positive dressing room and a positive attitude, so much of sports comes down to that.”
“If you get a bunch of guys who are playing for themselves, you’re never going to win,” he explained. “You’ve got to play for each other.”
It was that positive team dynamic, with the guys all getting along and having fun, which was the first thing Bell mentioned when asked about the team.
As the team drills hard in the last few months of the season, parents and officials are trying to recruit volunteers and garner the finances needed to cover costs.
Provincials should draw significant benefits to the community, with teams staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, and hitting up recreation and entertainment options when they’re not on the ice.
“We need community support big time,” said Geoff Watt, chair of the organizing committee.
Caption: Quinn Mulder carves the puck toward the net in a game against Quesnel this season.
Excitement is energizing parents and players, as Terrace hasn’t hosted minor hockey provincials since the peewees in 2005.
Parent Shelly Fisher says she is excited to host so she can take part in her son’s final minor hockey championship, as he is graduating out of minor hockey this year.
“As a parent, I feel it’s a very great way to end my ‘hockey mom career,’” she said.
Watt agreed, adding that many parents share the same sentiment.
“There’s a few parents who don’t get to travel much with the team, so it’s nice to have a tournament like this at home,” he said. “A lot of the parents have never been to provincials.”
Mark Fisher, one of the players on the team, said that playing in front of his peers, and having that home crowd support will really give the team an extra boost.
“It always just gives us an extra step, just knowing we’re playing in front of people that we know,” he said.