Emboldened by a major invitation, the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs are eager to build a full head of steam for the coming weeks ahead.
After all, when you earn a formal invitation to one of the biggest midget hockey tournaments in Western Canada, you want momentum on your side.
The Chiefs have won five of their last six games since learning they would be competing at the Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament in Calgary, which begins during the last week of December.
In that time they’ve out-scored their B.C. Major Midget league rivals 37-16, including last weekend’s victories of 6-3 and 6-1 over the South Island Royals.
Building a case for an invitation was about a winning record, too, remarked Chiefs head coach Jeff Urekar.
“They were all very excited when we (told them),” said Urekar, who is in his first full season as head coach. “We thought we had put together enough wins to be invited, but you never know because they only take so many teams.
“It is always one of the goals we have at the start of the season, and this will be my fourth (Mac’s) since joining the organization (as an assistant coach).”
It’s not just any tourney, either. Stacked with the many of the best midget-aged teams from across Western Canada, central and western U.S. and European clubs, the Mac’s is renown for being scouting central during the final week of the year.
The Chiefs are playing well and have shown over the past month that the berth was deserved.
In Saturday’s win, Jack Steffens made his return to the lineup by scoring twice as the Northeast squad built up a 3-0 lead in the first period. South Island answered back in the second, pulling within a goal, before defenceman James Bohn fired in the eventual game-winning goal.
Coquitlam’s Quinton Hill, Sam Schofield and Dylan Wilson rounded out the offence, while Burnaby netminder Michael Harroch collected the win.
Harroch was back in goal Sunday to backstop the 6-2 decision. In that contest, Nicolas Roussel counted a pair of goals and twin helpers to spark the team past the ninth-place Royals.
Also tallying were Burnaby blueliner Jackson Murphy-Johnson, Logan Kurki, Justin Scott and Hill.
Team captain Dante Ballarin, a New West native, and Kurki entered the game after enjoying a major achievement the night prior – both were called up by the Coquitlam junior A Express for their game Saturday against Surrey. Both made their presence made by scoring a goal in the Express’ 8-4 win, with Ballarin’s proving to be the game winner.
“It was great to see them both get on the scoreboard,” said Urekar. “They’re all working towards climbing the junior hockey ladder, and we’re extremely pleased when our players get these opportunities.”
Bohn, a Coquitlam native who is one of the leading scorers among defencemen in the BCMMHL, has played a pair of games with the Express, and is part of a strong blueline that has played a big role in the Chiefs run.
“You’ve got to be able to transition the puck, and our D has done a great job for us. Bohn and (Cody) Hough are playing really well, as is Jackson Murphy-Johnson.”
Murphy-Johnson is using his six-foot-two frame and looking the part of a defender, noted Urekar.
“He’s embraced the defence role and been a shutdown guy for us.”
This weekend’s games in Kelowna, where they play the fourth-place Rockets in a doubleheader, are the last action before a holiday break. It is also the last game, barring any exhibition tilt the coaches can line up, before the team wings to Calgary for the Mac’s. Urekar said there won’t be any need to remind the players of what’s in store when they get to Calgary.
“There may be some nerves, knowing there are 100 scouts in the stands and the possibility of loud crowd cheering on the opposition, if we’re playing a Calgary team,” he said. “It’s very fast-paced hockey. We’re taking an older group this year so I expect us to really do well.”
