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KIJHL Notebook: Team MVPs
For the final week of the regular season, the (Kootenay International Junior Hockey League) KIJHL Notebook puts the spotlight on each team’s most valuable players.
Eddie Mountain Division
Rookie Kayde Kinaschuk and Dylan Malarchuk have been two big pieces for the Columbia Valley Rockies.
“Kayde led the team in scoring (32 goals, 53 points in 37 games) and has been great off the ice, and Dylan was a strong two-way presence who played both defence and forward whenever we asked,” said head coach Briar McNaney. “They have both been phenomenal.”
Fernie Ghostriders
Scott Sinclair and Dayton Nelson have been key pieces for the Fernie Ghostriders.
“He’s just a great leader in our dressing room. He’s a guy that can be counted on in every situation or scenario that comes up,” said head coach and GM Ty Valin of Sinclair. “He’s been a very good role model for our younger defencemen and even our younger forwards too.”
Valin has seen the players respond to that really well.
“They embrace learning from him and how hard he works everyday and that is starting to rub off on other guys.
“Dayton Nelson has been amazing for us,” said Valin. “He rises to the occasion every night. That guy takes a beating everyday and he keeps on going, nothing fazes him. He wants the team to win and will do whatever it takes, he understands his role.”
If he’s needed to play physically, he will play that style. If he’s needed on the power-play, he will do it (10 power-play points).
“He has even been on the PK. He’s a guy that kind of just does it all,” said Valin. “Teammates feed off of what he does and it’s something that is contagious for our group.”
The Kimberley Dynamiters have chosen not to reveal their choice until they hold their awards banquet at the end of the season.
Golden Rockets
Levi Hall has been a steady, calm influence in the net for the Golden Rockets. Head coach and GM Chuck Wight said Hall has kept them in games.
“He makes very athletic saves and keeps us in a position to be competitive,” said Wight. “He has done that consistently.”
Wight has seen improvement in Hall’s mental focus and keeps getting better at it.
“He has worked on his puck-handling skills and he has been a lot calmer with the puck,” said Wight.
Click here to read about the rest of the teams in the KIJHL.
KIJHL