Brendan Burge racked up the accolades this past season with the Columbia Valley Rockies in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
The 20-year-old Salmon Arm Minor Hockey product was named Top Scorer as well as Most Valuable Player at the end of league play.
Burge has been a big contributor to the team’s success, said Graeme Anderson, vice-president of the Columbia Valley Rockies, last week.
“It’s the first time since the ’07-08 season we’ve made playoffs. We’re having a bit of fun with it. It’s the first time in a long time we’ve seen the arena so full.”
Since then, the Fernie Ghostriders defeated the Rockies in six games, but not without a big effort from the Columbia Valley squad and a lot of exciting hockey. The first two Fernie wins were in overtime and the third game was a 2-1 Rockies win. After that, the Riders won three in a row.
Burge has been a welcome asset to the Invermere squad.
“He’s a very, very skilled hockey player. We’re delighted and privileged to have him. In addition to that, he’s a genuinely nice young man.”
Prior to joining the Rockies, Burge played in Fernie, Revelstoke – where Troy Mick was his coach – and Kamloops.