Already noted as standout players in the league, two rookies with the Sicamous Eagles will play for a bigger audience after being tapped for the B.C. Hockey Conference (BCHC) Prospects game later this month.
Both in their first year with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), Owen Dewitt and Hayden Evans—among the league’s Top 5 scoring leaders with 25 and 21 points respectively—will have the chance to play in front of scouts from the Western Hockey League and post-secondary hockey programs.
“I’m super excited for them,” assistant coach Rob Sutherland said. “It feels extremely good to have local minor hockey kids you coached and pushed hard in the past, progress to the junior ranks and have the success that these two are having. It makes all those things you say as a minor hockey coach valid, and it makes you proud to be a part of their development as a player and a person.”
The two young players, who both play forward, were selected by head coach Dave Hnatiuk, assistants Briar McNaney and Jiri Novak, and operations manager Lance Morey over the past month, and will join the final roster of 18 other skaters from teams throughout the league.
Hnatiuk acknowledged that staff faced a number of difficult choices in narrowing down the group that will represent the KIJHL at the game, but are excited to now get the team together to start off-ice preparation so the players can capitalize this opportunity to showcase their skills on the big stage.
Eagles head coach Nick Deschenes is looking forward to his players getting that chance, while also highlighting local hockey.
“We are honoured to have two Sicamous Eagles players selected to the Prospects game. An additional bonus is they are from the region [Sicamous and Revelstoke], so it’s nice to attract local players and have them have an impact at our level,” he said. “This will hopefully further promote our program and league as a solid option for player development and promotion.”
The prospect game will take place in Kamloops on Tuesday, Nov. 28, with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. The full roster is available online at www.kijhl.ca.
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