Sharing the Energy

Crescent Point is proud to team up with the BCHL to support junior hockey www.crescentpointenergy.com SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE March 2013

Stories. Stats. Scores. Standings. www. .ca

Late Registration - 7

Surrey Eagles goalie Michael Santaguida didn’t join the team until late September but quickly made a name for himself. Mr. Consistent - 17

Marcus Basara was one of the few constants in the West Warriors lineup this season but put up numbers the whole way.

BCHL All-Stars & All-Rookies - 21 Coastal Conference All-Stars - P. 21-22 Interior Conference All-Stars - P. 24-25 2nd Team All-Stars - P. 26 All-Rookie Team - P. 28-29 Non-voting awards - P. 30 Trophy Time - 11

For the first time in three years, the top d-man in the Coastal Conference is not from Powell River. But the Vees made it a three-peat in the Interior while also had good representation on the trophies this year.

Wade Murphy, COVER: two-time Marcus Basara - W. Kelowna Warriors BCHL first team all star Tyler Steel - Mario Puskarich - A word from the editor...

SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE

Published by the Hockey League 102-7382 Winston Street , B.C., V5A 2G9

Editor: Brent Mutis (604) 422-8783 [email protected]

Contributors: Alex Hill, Gordon Lee

Photographer: Garrett James

Printed by Printhink Solutions Inc. arity reigned supreme in the 2012-13 BCHL season with the final Circulation: playoff spot not decided until the season’s closing weekend and no Smart Hockey is distributed in team cracking the 80-point barrier in the standings. (Since the ‘08-09 P September, November, January campaign, there has been at least one team that went 90+). and March in these markets:

Granted, it was a shorter season with 56 games rather than the usual 60 Alberni Valley but few have been more competitive across the league. It was a year where Cowichan Valley Victoria goals were harder to come by though there were some beauties including Powell River Langley Austin Azurdia’s viral-video game-winner for Langley. Surrey Penticton Chilliwack Salmon Arm Merritt There were also plenty of career years turned in by the league’s many Prince George Vernon talented players. We feature one of them, Marcus Basara of West Kelowna, West Kelowna Trail in this edition. Of course, goalies were a big story this season and we also profile one of the best from the past year in netminder Michael Santaguida. Available through www.bchl.ca

Enjoy! And see you at the rink. Brent Mutis Editor, Smart Hockey Magazine

!)0) K

8jgifl[jgfejfijf]k_\9:?C#JL9N8P ž i\jkXliXekjf]9:`em`k\pflkfk\jkpfli@HYp `[\ek`]p`e^k_\fecpi\Xc_fZb\pi\]\i\\j`^eXc]ifd k_fj\j_fneY\cfn%?Xm\]le#Ylk[feËk^\kZXcc\[

INFOGRAPHIE S. Ferland (Pica_05) G

RELECTURE

PRODUCTION

68201 DIR. ARTISTIQUE

RÉDACTION

Ef[\f[fiXekle[\ii`^_kXid 9\`e^lgkfpflibe\\j`enXk\i ?\X[XZ_\ SERVICE-CONSEIL

CLIENT

+ , - S4-8010 S4-8010 BCHL TestIQ_8.5x11 8 3/8 x 10 7/8 pouces OUI 100% COULEURS : QUADRICHROMIE DE DOSSIER : O FORMAT FINAL : FORMAT BXiXk\Z_fgg`e^ Gi\k\e[`e^kfÕp ?`[`e^k_\k`d\ N CETTE ÉPREUVE : MARGE PERDUE : NOM DU FICHIER :

. / 0 BCHL N/D SUBWAY RESTAURANTS SUBWAY COMMANDITE Hockey (A for...) TITRE : SUJET : CLIENT : D’ANNONCE : PUBLICATION : PUBLICATION O N DATE DE : PARUTION

?feb`e^XkilZb_fie D`jZfe[lZk ;`jZf[XeZ`e^

JXe[n`Z_% k^ff[ZXccX[\c`Z`fljJL9N8P 81>ff[ZXcc@kËjE—/ÇG\eXckp]fid`jZfe[lZk%DXb\pflie\o ž

Prepared fresh. © 2008 Doctor’s Associates Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc. Printed in Canada. Canadian version

S4-8010 TestIQ_8.5x11 BCHL.indd 1 8/4/08 5:29:01 PM !)0) K

8jgifl[jgfejfijf]k_\9:?C#JL9N8P ž i\jkXliXekjf]9:`em`k\pflkfk\jkpfli@HYp `[\ek`]p`e^k_\fecpi\Xc_fZb\pi\]\i\\j`^eXc]ifd k_fj\j_fneY\cfn%?Xm\]le#Ylk[feËk^\kZXcc\[ Santaguida handles INFOGRAPHIE S. Ferland (Pica_05) tardy start in stride G

RÉDACTION losses through the first few weeks. Santaguida was thrust into a Sept. 28 start against the , who were 4-1

Ef[\f[fiXekle[\ii`^_kXid 9\`e^lgkfpflibe\\j`enXk\i ?\X[XZ_\ SERVICE-CONSEIL to start the season, and he responded with 30 saves earning first star and the FortisBC Energy Player of the Game honours. CLIENT “When I got here, I got in Tuesday night at 11:00, my first practice was Wednesday and I was pretty nervous even + , - though I had played in a good league,” he recalls. “I wanted to show the guys I could play.” They certainly know it now. Santaguida reeled off an 8-1 stretch in November and went 10-2-1 from Dec. 28 to Jan. 27 as the Eagles caught and passed the for top spot on the Mainland Division. S4-8010 S4-8010 BCHL TestIQ_8.5x11 8 3/8 x 10 7/8 pouces OUI 100% The recently turned 20-year-old wound up with 29 wins, a Michael Santaguida took the BCHL by storm this season after BCHL-best .933 save percentage, 2.28 goals-against average being added to the Surrey Eagles roster in late September. The COULEURS : QUADRICHROMIE and two shutouts. He earned the league’s Goaltending Award DE DOSSIER : O FORMAT FINAL : FORMAT BXiXk\Z_fgg`e^ Gi\k\e[`e^kfÕp ?`[`e^k_\k`d\ N Mississauga, Ont. product earned BCHL all-rookie status and the CETTE ÉPREUVE : MARGE PERDUE : (the first Eagles goalie to ever win it), was named to the BCHL NOM DU FICHIER : league’s Goaltending Award. All-Rookie team and was a Coastal Conference 2nd Team All- Star. While no one in the BCHL knew who he was before Sept. 28, Santaguida had made a good name for himself playing . / 0 for Avon Old Farms, a prep program in Avon, Conn. that has also produced the likes of NHLers Chris Higgins, Brian Leetch, BCHL N/D SUBWAY RESTAURANTS SUBWAY COMMANDITE Hockey (A penalty for...) Jonathan Quick and Cam Atkinson.

TITRE : “He’s had the same numbers here as he had in prep school,” SUJET : CLIENT : notes Eagles head coach Matt Erhart. “Everything I’d seen and D’ANNONCE : PUBLICATION : PUBLICATION O N heard was true. In his first game, he was first star and we’ve

DATE DE : PARUTION never looked back.” Santaguida finalized a scholarship to the University of Ver- ?feb`e^XkilZb_fie D`jZfe[lZk ;`jZf[XeZ`e^ mont for next season and has been happy to be part of the Eagles’ first-place overall finish in the regular season, their first since 1997. “When I got here, they weren’t in a very good position standings-wise,” he says. “I was excited to turn the team

around and as the season progressed, you could see guys try-

JXe[n`Z_% k^ff[ZXccX[\c`Z`fljJL9N8P 81>ff[ZXcc@kËjE—/ÇG\eXckp]fid`jZfe[lZk%DXb\pflie\o ž ing new things and the confidence going up and up.”

Prepared fresh. © 2008 Doctor’s Associates Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc. Printed in Canada. Canadian version SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE 7

S4-8010 TestIQ_8.5x11 BCHL.indd 1 8/4/08 5:29:01 PM Certainly not the largest netminder in the league at 5-foot-9, Santaguida uses sharp instincts and anticipation along with superior puckhandling skills to provide a vital asset for Surrey. He’ll put those tools to use in the playoffs with Austin Azurdia (#11 above) and the rest of the Langley Rivermen providing the opposition.

One of the biggest changes when Santaguida took over the “It’s fun to come out and make plays and help my team- crease was how much he communicates with his teammates mates.” on the ice. Santaguida seems to have been the perfect find for the “I’m a vocal guy out there and I think it’s made a world of Eagles and at just the right time too. Not only did he provide difference,” says Santaguida. “I love the D-corps this year; we reliability in the crease, he didn’t really need to adjust to the all play hard for each other. They’ve been there for me and I’ve team’s Olympic-size ice surface at South Surrey Arena. been there for them. My goals-against average directly reflects “When I was growing up, in bantam and midget I played the performance of the defencemen.” on an Olympic-size sheet and I actually love the Olympic-size And Surrey has some of the best with 1st Team All-Stars Dev- sheet,” he says. “To have that much more room behind the net on Toews and Craig Wyszomirski along with the steady play of and corner to corner; some (goalies) don’t like it because of Dan O’Keefe and Jordan Klimek. Santaguida helped make their the angles (on shots) but as I got older, the angles didn’t really jobs easier as well due to his superb skills moving the puck. affect me too much.” “He’s so good handling the puck,” says Erhart, a former Eagles He believes the wider ice also allows him to better read the defenceman himself. “It’s allowed us to do different things; he play, which is vital to his game. At 5-foot-9, anticipation is key starts the breakout and on the penalty kill, he’s helped us out for Santaguida. a lot.” “I think it has to be,” he says. “Reading the play and my agil- Puckhandling is something Santaguida’s father, Gasper, em- ity and speed are definitely my strengths but even though I’m phasized to him early on. quick, if I don’t read the play, I’m going to be behind.” “When I was 10 or 11, I started playing three-on-three hock- He hasn’t found himself playing catch up too much this sea- ey,” says Santaguida. “There was lots of room on the ice and son but with the playoffs getting underway, he and the Eagles my dad used to tell me, ‘Go out with the puck and experiment will be tested as the #1 seed. with it.’ I started to have a blast playing the puck; it’s a real as- With Santaguida moving the puck and hollering directions set to myself and my teammates. from the crease, they’ve got to like their chances.

8 SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE Veteran bench boss shows he hasn’t lost the touch

In his many seasons behind the bench, Bill Bestwick has just about seen it all but not even he could have predicted the turnaround he helped orchestrate with the this season. “We hoped to re-establish the program, maybe finish .500 and hope that was good enough to get into the playoffs,” says Bestwick of his expecta- tions. “It’s really a tribute to the players and staff that we got on the same page as a team. I have to think we absolutely overachieved.” The accomplishments were twice as nice for a guy that spent last year on the sidelines, not coaching for the first time in a long time. “After spending the majority of the win- ters of my adult life in arenas, not spending Bill Bestwick last winter there was hard,” he says. “It was really energizing to get back and work with an organization with great people.” Though it was just one year away from the game, the hiatus altered Bestwick’s outlook on coaching. “I don’t think the league is really any different than from before I returned; that part was an easy adjustment,” he says. “I think I’ve probably changed and changed my approach. I think I’m more conciliatory now.” The Grizzlies face Powell River in Round One. WHY DOESN’T WASTING POWER SEEM AS RIDICULOUS?

Let’s be smart with our power and waste less energy by switching to ENERGY STAR ® CFL and LED bulbs, installing dimmer switches and motion sensors, and using ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures. For more tips and great deals on energy-saving products visit powersmart.ca

A12-302 BCHL Magazine Ad.indd 1 12-10-29 8:44 AM Vern Dye Trophy - Most Valuable Player

Coastal Conference Interior Conference

Mitch Gillam, Chilliwack Chiefs Brent Baltus, Last year in his rookie campaign, it was BCHL second- Perseverance paid off big time for Baltus this season team all-star recognition for Gillam as he and goalie part- in Trail. Having slogged through an 11-win campaign ner Bryton Udy backstopped the upstart Chiefs to the fi- with the Smoke Eaters a year ago, Baltus worked ex- nal playoff spot in the Interior Conference. tremely hard in the offseason and helped the Smokies This time around, Gillam took the lion’s share of the to a 25-point improvement in the standings, bringing starts, making 46 appearances in the Chilliwack crease, them within a whisker of the postseason. and the Chiefs rode his steady hand to be one of the top The Nanaimo, B.C. native almost doubled his point teams in the Coastal Conference. total from a year ago despte playing 13 fewer games. Gillam served notice early that he’d be a force to con- Baltus also missed nine games from mid-December to tend with as he made 46 saves on 48 shots in a season- mi-January during which time the Smokies went 3-6 opening loss to the Penticton Vees. He ended the season which may have been the difference between making with four shutouts which was good enough for second- the playoffs and not. best in the BCHL. The Peterborough, Ont. native im- A four-point evening on Nov. 16 was Baltus’ high in proved in every statistical category this year while play- offensive production but he had 14 other multi-point ing more than 400 more minutes than last season. games and an eight-game point streak from Oct. 19 to Another highlight of Gillam’s season was Dec. 28; he Nov. 9. was credited with a after Surrey Eagles forward Wil- The 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward’s play caught the liam Clark had a shot rebound off the glass, down the ice eye of the University of Alaska-Anchorage and Baltus into an unguarded net with a delayed penalty coming. will suit up for the Seawolves next season.

SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE 11 Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy - Rookie of the Year

Coastal Conference Interior Conference

Luke Esposito, Chilliwack Chiefs Ryan Gropp, Penticton Vees

In the Chilliwack Chiefs return to the BCHL for the At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Gropp is not built like 2011-12 season, Harvey Smyl’s club took on a lunch- your typical BCHL rookie and his game belies his youth bucket mentality that wasn’t overly long on finesse. as well. The product looked completely at In Year 2, players like Esposito helped bring skill and home this season playing for the defending RBC Cup style back to the franchise that has had five players, champs as a 16-year-old. including and , lead the Gropp was one of only a handful of 1996-born players league in scoring. in the league but stood out more for his flashes of bril- Esposito looked like anything but a rookie in his first liance, like this highlight-reel goal against Alberni BCHL campaign after turning in two seasons of prep Valley, than for any rookie miscues. hockey in the United States. His knack of finding team- So highly thought of is Gropp that he was the only mates in prime scoring positions is what allowed him to player from Junior A to be selected for the Team Pacific lead the BCHL in assists this season with 54. roster for the World Under-17 tournament in Quebec The Harvard recruit led the league in scoring for much in December. Gropp acquitted himself well in the event of the season before being overtaken by Mario Puskarich which was populated mainly with major junior players. late. He led all rookies in scoring and also led the league Gropp managed to thrive in his first season of Junior in power-play assists with 21. Esposito and linemate Aus- hockey despite having to balance high school classes as tin Plevy both finished in the top-four in league scoring well. Tracking his progress will be fun though it will be a giving the Chiefs one of the BCHL’s best duos. chore for opposing defenders to keep him under wraps.

12 SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE Best Defenceman Award

Coastal Conference Interior Conference

Devon Toews, Surrey Eagles , Penticton Vees

Even though he played six less games than a season Following in the footsteps of former Penticton blue- ago, Toews shattered his goal and assist totals from his line greats Joey Laleggia and Mike Reilly, Stecher made rookie campaign. His 47 points mirrored the total of it a Vees three-peat in the Top Defenceman category. his Interior Conference counterpart Troy Stecher. The Those who have watched the 5-foot-11, 180-pound pair were also teammates on Team Canada West at the blueliner for the past three seasons weren’t surprised. . Stecher established new career highs in goals and as- Toews put up points at even strength and on the man sists even though he played less games than either of advantage but really developed his ability as a power- the previous two seasons. The Richmond, B.C. native play quarterback as he registered 17 assists when the was out of the Vees lineup while he played for Team opposition was shorthanded. Canada West for the second straight season at the Some thought Toews might be selected in last year’s World Junior A Challenge, helping them to a silver med- NHL Entry Draft and playing alongside the likes of Adam al in Yarmouth, N.S. Tambellini now with the Eagles should provide him a The soon-to-be 19 year old finished second among stage to show his wares again this season. BCHL defencemen in scoring but tied Shane Hanna for Surrey will have a target on their backs as the first- the lead in assists among blueliners with 39. place club in the league and it will take a big contribution The Vees captain had 10 multi-point games this sea- from their all-everything blueliner to ensure they make son including a four-assist effort against Merritt Dec. 7 good on their promise. and had three separate four-game point streaks.

SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE 13 Bob Fenton Trophy - Most Sportsmanlike Player

Coastal Conference Interior Conference

Ryan Lough, Brandon Mistal,

With 10 points in his first five games this season, Lough After the Salmon Arm SilverBacks moved captain Ben- served notice his was in line for a big season and wound nett Hambrook to the Trail Smoke Eaters in November, it up leading the Bulldogs in goals with 22. was an easy decision to put the ‘C’ on Brandon Mistal’s But beyond that, the 19-year-old captain showed his jersey. teammates how to be effective without being a liability. The veteran BCHL forward, who went over the 200- Not one time this season did Lough take more than two game threshold on Feb. 22, set a new personal marks for minutes in penalties in a single game. He had a stretch of assists and points this season while providing the calm- 11 games from Nov. 16 to Jan. 16 where he didn’t see the ing influence needed as the ’Backs gutted out a season inside of the penalty box at all. finish that earned them the final playoff spot in the Inte- He put up 10 points during that same run of games to rior Conference. keep Alberni Valley in the thick of the race for home-ice Through it all, Mistal led by example and took just 10 advantage in the playoffs too. minutes in penalties. The Kamloops, B.C. product was The Manotick, Ont. native scored 20 more points this not whistled for an infraction until the 23rd game of the season while playing in 11 fewer games and also reduced season. That was the same weekend he went off for six his PIMs from 27 to 18. Lough made other teams pay goals in three games to take the GONGSHOW BCHL Play- when they went shorthanded as he buried eight power- er of the Week. play tallies. Lough accepted a scholarship and will play for Mistal has not missed a game in the last three seasons St. Lawrence University in 2014. and in that time has amassed just 44 PIMs.

TM I want Money for Life.

We can help with your goals. Let’s talk about Money for Life.TM www.sunlife.ca Life’s brighter under the sun © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2013.

14 SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy - Coach of the Year

Coastal Conference Interior Conference

Bill Bestwick, Victoria Grizzlies Luke Pierce, Merritt Centennials

Bestwick proved after a year hiatus from coaching that Still not yet 30 years old, Merritt native Pierce already he still has what it takes to build a winner. And he had his has three-plus seasons under his belt as the general man- work cut out for him, inheriting a franchise that stum- ager and head coach of the Centennials. He’s made the bled to the finish line last season with three wins in its most of the opportunity. final 23 games and a league-worst 305 goals against for When he took over full duties part way through the the campaign. 2009-10 campaign, the Centennials were a struggling The longtime Nanaimo Clipper bench boss’s return group on its way to a 20-39-1 record. The next year to the BCHL was triumphant as he guided the Grizz to a brought a slight improvement in the standings but since 33-point improvement in the standings, good enough for the start of the 2011-12 campaign, Merritt has become a first place in the Island Division. Goals against were cut legitimate force to contend with in the BCHL. almost in half from a year ago and Victoria took control Pierce’s roots in the community plus the vision he has of their division with a 13-2-3 run from Dec. 1 to Jan. 26. worked towards have paid dividends as Merritt has been It’s the third time Bestwick has had his name engraved able to attract talented players who rarely get outworked. on the Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy, having been The progress shown by the Cents has not gone unno- named the Coastal Conference’s top coach in 2005 and ticed as Pierce became the first coach to win theTen- 2008 with the Clippers. Bestwick guides the Grizzlies into nant trophy since Al Glendenning in 2006. After taking playoff battle against another highly decorated BCHL vet- the Cents to the second round last year, Pierce will try to eran coach in Kent Lewis of the . guide his troops on a deep playoff run in 2013.

SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE 15 FUELLING YOUR HOCKEY KNOWLEDGE EVERY WEEKNIGHT AT 11PM Marcus Basara’s well-rounded offensive game and durability has made him invaluable to the this seson. Warrior mentality: Basara a fixture for West Kelowna as injury bug bites team By Brent Mutis inding enough names to fill out the West Kelowna be different each night. FUELLING YOUR Warriors lineup each night became a tall order at “I had to adjust a bit but there’s no bad players on our times this season for head coach Rylan Ferster. team so it was fun to play with different guys,” says Ba- That said, it was nice to know one name he could sara, who tallied 33 goals and 37 assists this season. “I HOCKEY KNOWLEDGE Fcount on night in and night out was also the guy that led think coming into this year, I wanted to be an impact guy the team in goals and points. Forward Marcus Basara on the team, be a guy that could play a lot of minutes.” laced up for all 56 games this season. The only other But most of those minutes have come at even strength, Warrior to join him in that feat was rookie forward Matt which makes his scoring totals all the more impressive. EVERY WEEKNIGHT AT 11PM Anholt. Basara is the only player in the top-20 in BCHL scoring In a year where usual lineup staples Max French, Brett this season with less than 15 points on the man advan- McKinnon, David Pope and Shawn Hochhausen were un- tage. That indicates he can score when space is tight and available for significant stretches, Basara picked up the he doesn’t fear contact to get to the net. slack and produced even when his linemates seemed to “Obviously, he’s a pretty good offensive player and he

SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE 17 scores big goals for us,” says Ferster. “He doesn’t get a lot of power-play time. He gets most of it five-on-five.” The determination Basara demonstrates leaves - Fer ster with no hesitation about giving him all the rest of the ice time he can handle. Having coached the likes of , Tyler Bozak and in the BCHL, he knows a good one when he sees one. “For me, his best asset is his speed – he’s able to cre- ate stuff by himself,” says Ferster. “He’s so skilled, his one-on-one play is outstanding and he can stickhandle in a phone booth. His shot is so quick, he gets it off so fast and his first few steps are as good as anyone I’ve coached.” That’s saying a lot. Basara’s repertoire of skills and his 6-foot, 190-pound frame make him pretty hard to handle for any opposi- tion and it’s that bundle POSTSEASON of talent that prompted PERFORMER the University of Alaska- Basara by the numbers: Fairbanks to sign him to a scholarship last sea- 2010 midget playoffs son. Even as a young & Telus Cup: player in the league, it became apparent he 13 GP, 6G, 5A would develop into a 2011 BCHL Playoffs: potent offensive threat. 16 GP, 4G, 7A The Port Moody, B.C. product posted 28 2013 BCHL Playoffs: Basara says his ability to distribute the puck as well as take it to points in his rookie sea- ??? the net himself keeps defenders off balance and he’s taken son with a defence-con- advantage this season to post career highs in goals and assists. scious squad. He then put up 18 points in 29 postseason games as the Vipers came within a win of the 2011 RBC Cup national title. That experience showed he can come through on the big stage. It’s also made him hungry since the loss in the national title game was tough to swallow and then after being traded to the Warriors last season, the team missed the playoffs. “That really stuck with me, that run,” he says. “There were a lot of guys on that team that I really learned a lot from. I feel we have just as good a team as then; I’m really excited to be back in the playoffs this year as we didn’t make it last year. “My experience, I hope I can bring that and be the guy that I looked up to when I was 17.” That’s what Ferster is counting on as well. In addi- tion to the RBC Cup run with Vernon, Basara also led his Notre Dame Hounds midget team to the 2010 Telus

18 SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE Marcus Basara feature

Cup national tournament. For a while, Basara was playing with Lloyd and David “He’s been on some long playoff runs,” notes Ferster. Pope. Then when Lloyd was a way and Pope got hurt, he “He’s faced adversity game by game and shift by shift. was playing with Shawn Hochhausen and Brett McKin- He’s a bit of a calming influence on the guys who haven’t non which Basara says was a completely different ap- been through it. proach. Basara can’t exactly explain why he’s found His shot is so Currently, he and Lloyd are teamed up again himself going deep into the playoffs when he’s and captain Max French joins them to make been given the chance. All he knows is he just quick, he gets one of the most dangerous trios in the league. wants to do it again now with West Kelowna. it off so fast As for those one-on-one skills that Ferster “I guess I’ve sort of had success in playoff and his first sees making him such a threat, Basara believes runs; I must just like the stage,” he says. “I get few steps are he is able to create chances because he keeps up for playoff runs, I’ve always been a really the opposition guessing. competitive guy… my competitive side comes as good as “I like to think I can make plays as well as be out in the playoffs.” anyone I’ve a shooter,” he says. “With the other team not His drive to succeed seems to raise the level coached knowing if I’m going to pass or take it to the of those around him as well and that’s been net myself… I slowed my game down a bit. I crucial this season with so many key players - Rylan Ferster learned as I matured as a player when to pull out of the lineup at various points in the schedule. Even up and make a play.” the player he’s found the most consistent chemistry Now that the rest of his BCHL foes are on notice, these with, Seb Lloyd, was away for a couple of weeks in No- playoffs will tell whether they can do anything to stop vember playing at the World Junior A Challenge. him.

#OWNTHEMOMENT

WHEN THE PUCK DROPS, IT’S TIME TO RISE TO THE OCCASION. OWN THE MOMENT

Proud partner of the BCHL for the 2013-14 season. The offi cial uniform, equipment & apparel provider.

© 2013 Bauer Hockey, Inc. and its affi liates. All rights reserved. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the . NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. ©NHL 2013. All Rights Reserved.

OTM Puck Drop - BCHL.indd 1 3/15/13 1:11 PM WhoWho will represent the West and compete for a National Title at the 2013 RBC RBC Cup Cup?

Inaugural Crescent Point Energy April 26 - May 5, 2013 @ Nanaimo, BC

WCC Ad_2012_colour_CS4-small.indd 1 12-07-14 9:57 PM COASTAL CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

WhoWho will represent

the West and MITCH DEVON CRAIG GILLAM TOEWS WYSZOMIRSKI for a compete ot since 2009 has a goalie bbotsford, B.C. product Toews t’s not often two first-team all- turned in a season that won continued to develop his stars play on the same blueline National Title at Nhim the Vern Dye Memorial Aalready-impressive game Ibut when Wyszomirski returned Trophy as a most valuable player but during the 2012-13 campaign posting to junior hockey after limited action Gillam got the ’tenders back on the the second-highest goal total by BCHL at Providence College last season, the 2013 board this season. defencemen. that’s what the Surrey Eagles got. Gillam reached the 50-win mark The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder The 6-foot-4, 215-pound native for his BCHL career with a victory doesn’t overwhelm with sheer size of Mahway, N.J. teamed with Devon March 9 over the Langley Rivermen. but uses superior skating, vision and Toews to give Surrey one of the most RBC Cup? The 5-foot-11, 181-pound goalie had game sense to contribute all over the effective back ends in the league and RBC Cup eight games of 40 or more saves and ice. He turned in a rare rearguard hat were a big reason why the Eagles had his high-water mark was a 47-save trick on Oct. 21, which included the the BCHL’s third-best goal differential. showing in a Feb. 15 triumph over the double-overtime winner, as part of a Wyszomirski showed his offensive West Kelowna Warriors. four-point night, in a 5-4 win over Trail. capabilities with eight goals, includ- After last season, Gillam could Toews had 13 multi-point games ing five on the power play, and used have gone to Cornell University but and had three separate four-game his large frame to rack up 78 penalty opted to come back to Chilliwack. point scoring streaks. He is one of five minutes. He had 11 multiple-point Inaugural In September when he joins the Big current BCHLers committed to attend games including a three-assist game Red, having this season’s dominance Quinnipiac University and will suit up on Nov. 12 and a one-goal, two-assist Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup under his belt will only help. for the Bobcats this fall. effort on Nov. 27. April 26 - May 5, 2013 @ Nanaimo, BC 2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: Games: 46 Games: 48 Games: 54 Wins: 27 Goals: 10 Goals: 8 Losses: 18 Assists: 37 Assists: 28 T/OTL: 1 Points: 47 Points: 36 SO: 4 PIM: 55 PIM: 78 GAA: 2.53 PPG: 2 PPG: 5 Sv %: .929 GWG: 2 GWG: 1

SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE 21

WCC Ad_2012_colour_CS4-small.indd 1 12-07-14 9:57 PM COASTAL CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

MARIO BRADY LUKE PUSKARICH SHAW ESPOSITO

or a significant stretch of the ot only was Shaw productive he only player in the top 13 in regular season, Puskarich this season, setting a new BCHL scoring who was not a 20- Ftrailed Chilliwack’s talenented Ncareer-high in goals, he was Tgoal scorer, Esposito fashioned duo of Luke Esposito and Austin Plevy also clutch with a BCHL-best nine a reputation as a supreme playmaker for the league scoring lead. game-winning markers. and had fabulous chemistry with line- But after the calender flipped over A handful for opposing defencemen mate Austin Plevy who benefited from to 2013, the Pittsburgh-born sniper at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Shaw Esposito’s setups. would not be denied. He went off for also demonstrated a sweet set of Esposito picked his spots pretty 40 points in his final 22 games and hands with a highlight-reel goal well as five of his 17 tallies on the concluded the season on a 10-game against Langley and 37 other times. campaign were game-winners. The scoring streak, to wrap up the Brett Shaw also made headlines in 5-foot-10, 175-pound native of Green- Hull Trophy. October when he was involved in a wich, Conn. produced 22 multi-point Puskarich had 27 multi-point trade from the Coquitlam Express games including a four-assist night games including two six-point games. to the Eagles in exchange for Surrey on Oct. 5. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound forward captain Tyler Morley. Shaw didn’t After missing the scoresheet in his showed a true setup-man side as well disappoint his new squad scoring BCHL debut, Esposito reeled off an with 48 assists. foug goals in his first two games in 11-game point streak and remained The 20-year old will take his game Eagles colours. near the top of the points race the to the University of Vermont in the The Ottawa native heads to Bentley rest of the way. He’s one of seven coming season. University for the 2013-14 season. BCHL players committed to Harvard.

2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: Games: 55 Games: 54 Games: 55 Goals: 41 Goals: 38 Goals: 17 Assists: 48 Assists: 32 Assists: 54 Points: 89 Points: 70 Points: 71 PIM: 27 PIM: 53 PIM: 48 PPG: 12 PPG: 10 PPG: 7 GWG: 2 GWG: 9 GWG: 5

22 SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE www.yokohama.ca ICE GUARD IG20 kaltire.com INTERIOR CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

TYLER TROY SHANE STEEL STECHER HANNA

ne of the most athletic ust the latest in a string of Vees ew defencemen were able to goaltenders in the BCHL, BCHL Top Defenceman trophy dictate their teams fortunes OSteel became known for his Jwinners, Stecher continued Fon any given night the way that lightning glove hand and his stellar to build on his stellar career with Hanna did for the SilverBacks and in puckhandling skills. Penticton posting new highs in goals a breakout season, he helped them The Vernon, B.C. native put those and assists. into the playoffs after the team got off skills to use and wound up tied with The Richmond, B.C. product also to a rough start. Powell River’s Jonah Imoo for the took part in his second straight World The homegrown Shuswap product league lead in shutouts with five. The Junior A Challenge with Team Canada began the season pointless in six 6-foot-2, 175-pound netminder also West which kept him out of the Vees games but busted out for 14 points led all BCHL goalies in assists with lineup for four games. in the next nine contests in what was four. Stecher worked the point on the his longest scoring streak of the cam- A veteran of 105 regular-season power play effectively with 12 assists paign. games, Steel played over 1,000 on the man advantage but was just Hanna racked up an impressive 16 more minutes this season than his as effective at even strenth where 34 multi-point games including three in previous high and posted the lowest of his points were produced. the final five games as the ’Backs se- goals-against average of his career. This will be the last season in cured a playoff spot. Steel went on a six-game winning the BCHL for Stecher as he joins Hanna also secured a scholarship streak from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 in which teammate Wade Murphy at the this season to Michigan Tech where he posted two of his shutouts. University of North Dakota in the fall. he’s set to go in the fall.

2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: Games: 46 Games: 52 Games: 53 Wins: 26 Goals: 8 Goals: 12 Losses: 18 Assists: 39 Assists: 39 T/OTL: 2 Points: 47 Points: 51 SO: 5 PIM: 40 PIM: 36 GAA: 2.56 PPG: 1 PPG: 6 Sv %: .911 GWG: 1 GWG: 1

24 SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE INTERIOR CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX HILL MARCUS SEB WADE BASARA LLOYD MURPHY

etting a full season to show n injury-marred 2011-12 t a glance, you’d think Murphy what he could do with the season prevented Lloyd from regressed this season going GWarriors after being traded Areally showing what he could do Afrom 91 points a year ago to 70 from Vernon the in 2011, Basara but he more than accounted for that this season. But it’s easy to explain. came through in a big way, leading this season. Last season, the Vees had a team the team in goals and points. The Prince George product scored for the ages, loaded with elite talent Basara started the campaign on at least a point in all but three of the and they were good again this year an eight-game point-streak and was games he played in from the start but goals were down throughout the held off the scoresheet just once in of the season on Sept. 8 through BCHL as teams committed to sound the first 17 games of the season. to Jan. 19. He missed four games defensive structure. After missing the playoffs last in November as he was with Team Murphy still found a way through season, Basara as a big reason the Canada West at the World Junior A the opposition on most nights, using Tribe not only got in this year but Challenge where he posted three his lightning-quick release to tally 23 grabbed home-ice advantage for the goals and an assist in four games. goals and his wraparound vision to first round. The Coquitlam native Lloyd had a season-long 13 game notch 47 assists. He had two games played all 56 games in a season point streak from Dec. 9 to Jan. 19 with five assists, one as part of a sev- where coach Rylan Ferster had and helped the Warriors to their torrid en-point night on Feb. 2. trouble icing a lineup some nights stretch in January and February. Murphy played with Team Canada due to injuries. Basara is headed to He is one of seven BCHLers West at the WJAC and is committed to Alaska-Fairbanks in 2014. committed to Harvard. North Dakota for next season.

2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: Games: 56 Games: 52 Games: 50 Goals: 33 Goals: 24 Goals: 23 Assists: 37 Assists: 42 Assists: 47 Points: 70 Points: 66 Points: 70 PIM: 83 PIM: 37 PIM: 50 PPG: 7 PPG: 4 PPG: 7 GWG: 5 GWG: 3 GWG: 4

SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE 25 2nd Team All-Stars Interior Conference

F – Regan Soquila, Merritt Centennials GP – 56 G – 25 A – 36 Points – 61 PIMs – 31

F – John Siemer, Penticton Vees GP – 55 G – 24 A – 44 Points – 68 PIMs – 56

F – Brent Baltus, Trail Smoke Eaters GP – 47 G – 24 A – 28 Points – 52 PIMs – 24

D – Josh Monk, West Kelowna Warriors GP – 48 G – 9 A – 37 Points – 46 PIMs – 50

D – Brett Corkey, Vernon Vipers GP – 53 G – 3 A – 24 Points – 27 PIMs – 19

G – Tyler Briggs GP – 38 W – 22 L – 13 GAA – 2.45 Sv % - .925 SO – 2

Coastal Conference

F – Austin Plevy, Chilliwack Chiefs GP – 54 G – 30 A – 43 Points – 73 PIMs – 28

F – , Surrey Eagles GP – 52 G – 36 A – 29 Points – 65 PIMs – 26

F – Phil Zielonka, Chilliwack Chiefs GP – 45 G – 36 A – 26 Points – 62 PIMs – 32

D – DJ Jones, Victoria Grizzlies GP – 49 G – 4 A – 29 Points – 33 PIMs – 10

D – Bo Pellah, Alberni Valley Bulldogs GP – 46 G – 4 A – 29 Points – 33 PIMs – 50

G – Michael Santaguida, Surrey Eagles GP – 42 W – 29 L – 10 GAA – 2.28 Sv % - .933 SO – 2

26 SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE

Vancouver’s Flagship Sports Radio Stations BCHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

GORDON LEE PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL JARRETT DANE SANTAGUIDA BROWN BIRKS

30-save, 1st Star showing in his n a challenging season for the hen a 6-foot-3, 190-pound, BCHL debut was an outstanding Caps, Brown was a bright light in 17-year-old defenceman introduction to the league for his rookie campaign providing 27 Wputs up six points in his first A two BCHL games of the season, it Santaguida and he followed it up with I points from the blueline and playing plenty of other memorable nights. in all situations. tends to make people notice. The Mississagua, Ont. native Brown posted a goal and an assist Birks did just that this season and missed the first six Eagles games in his first BCHL game, Sept. 8 at the he did it to the Trail Smoke Eaters, of the season but made up for that, BCHL Showcase and it was a taste the team coached by his father Bill. finishing atop the BCHL in wins of what was ahead. Despite the fact, Though it was impossible to stick to with 29 and posting the top save the Caps slumped to fifth place in the that scoring pace, the Williams Lake, percentage too at .933. Island Division, Brown managed five B.C. native was an impressive part of During an 8-1- stretch in the month multi-point games and a five-game the Centennials blueline. of November, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound point streak in January. Along with teammates like Kevin ’tender allowed more than two goals The Beaumont, Alta. product was Lohan and Dylan Chanter, all 6-foot- only once. He earned one of his two dangerous on the man advantage 3 and above, Birks and co. formed Gongshow BCHL Player of the Week with six of his eight goals coming on one of biggest and most productive Awards after posting consecutive the power play. defence corps in the BCHL. shutouts Dec. 29 and 30. Brown also inked a scholarship this Michigan Tech took note of Birks’ Santaguida has committed to the season to the University of Alaska- season too and signed him to a University of Vermont for the fall. Anchorage for 2014. scholarship for 2014.

2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: Games: 42 Games: 53 Games: 52 Wins: 29 Goals: 8 Goals: 5 Losses: 10 Assists: 19 Assists: 15 T/OTL: 3 Points: 27 Points: 20 SO: 2 PIM: 27 PIM: 28 GAA: 2.28 PPG: 6 PPG: 3 Sv %: .933 GWG: 1 GWG: 1

28 SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE BCHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

LUKE BRAD PHIL ESPOSITO MCCLURE ZIELONKA

or a healthy portion of the fter three successful seasons ot even a midseason change BCHL schedule, it looked like with the Stratford Cullitons of scenery could knock Zielon- FEsposito would become one of of the Greater Ontario Junior ka off stride as he piled up the rare rookies to win a scoring title. A N Hockey League, McClure made a points with both the Coquitlam Ex- While it didn’t ultimately happen, the successful transition to the Junior A press and Chilliwack Chiefs. Greenwich, Conn. native still turned in game in the BCHL. Zielonka didn’t even play his first one of the great freshman campaigns His most productive stretch was BCHL game until Oct. 20 and after the league has seen. a 12-point-in-nine games run from a scoreless debut, he authored a An 11-game point streak from Sept. Nov. 10 to Dec. 1 but he also had a league-best 20-game point streak 8 to Oct. 19 that yielded 18 points eight-game point streak from Dec. from Oct. 26 to Dec. 29. Within that ensured Esposito’s name would be 29 to Jan. 20 where he posted six run, he also had a 13-game goalscor- among the leaders for the rest of the goals and four assists. Overall, he ing streak. season. Only twice did the 5-foot-10, had 12 multi-point games on the On the power play, Zielonka was 175-pound setup man score multiple season including a hat trick on Oct. a deadly weapon with 16 tallies, far goals but he had 16 games with two 13 against Cowichan Valley. and away the best total in the BCHL. or more assists. Penticton Vees fans will get to enjoy His 1.4 points-per-game was also Esposito inked a scholarship watching McClure for one more year among the best in the league. to prestigious Harvard University as he is commited to go to Ferris State Zielonka will join Chiefs teammate this season and will suit up for the University but not until the 2014-15 Luke Espositon at Harvard University Crimson in the fall. season. next season.

2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: 2012-13 Statistics: Games: 55 Games: 53 Games: 45 Goals: 17 Goals: 27 Goals: 36 Assists: 54 Assists: 19 Assists: 26 Points: 71 Points: 46 Points: 62 PIM: 48 PIM: 24 PIM: 32 PPG: 7 PPG: 4 PPG: 16 GWG: 5 GWG: 5 GWG: 6

SMART HOCKEY MAGAZINE 29 BCHL non-voting awards

Top Goaltender Wally Forslund Trophy - Trophy Memorial Trophy - Top Scorer Top Goaltending Duo Michael Santaguida Chad Katunar 2.33 Mario Puskarich Surrey Eagles & Nic Renyard combined Langley Rivermen 2,582 Minutes, 2.28 GAA Penticton Vees GAA 41G + 48A = 89 points Offers* Rebate Description

12-338-BCHL-P1.indd 1 Wednesday12-11-14 1:27 PM