The Quest for the Teck Cup, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff championship, begins tomorrow. The Revelstoke Grizzlies are the defending Teck Cup champions.
Kootenay Conference- Neil Murdoch Division
Grand Forks Border Bruins Vs Castlegar Rebels
Season Series: Border Bruins won 6-0.
The President’s Cup winners face a team making strides under a new coach. The Border Bruins aim for the Teck Cup after past playoff disappointments. Rebels interim head coach Alex Evin is 2-7 since taking over in February and acknowledges his team is the underdog.
Players to watch: Levi Astill, the KIJHL’s leading scorer, had 18 points against the Rebels. Goalie Jasper Tait won 14 of 18 starts, including three against the Rebels, and has two playoff games under his belt. Rebels forward Joshua Gamble, who led the team with five points in four playoff games last season, will be key again after posting four points against the Border Bruins.
Nelson Leafs Vs Beaver Valley Nitehawks
Season Series: The Nitehawks won 6-0.
The Nitehawks want another shot at the Kootenay Conference Final after falling to the Fernie Ghostriders last season. That journey begins against the Leafs. Rookie Brady Magarrell had five goals and six points against the Leafs. Under head coach Gianni Mangone, the Leafs have been working hard at improving their play. The coach is very confident in the roster’s ability. Carsyn Crawford had three goals against the Nitehawks and Quinn Ramsay had four points.
Players to Watch: Partington led the Leafs in playoff scoring last year with four in five games. Nitehawks’ Ollie Clement has 34 points in 44 career Teck Cup games and should be a key contributor.
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