Ice stay close but drop pair at BCMMHL Showcase Weekend
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Kootenay Ice opened the BC Hockey Major Midget League season on a sour note falling twice during Showcase Weekend to Greater Vancouver Canadians in Richmond.
Showcase Weekend, the first of two during the season, has all teams playing at one location, giving junior and college scouts a chance to view prospects.
Kyle Uy scored twice for Greater Vancouver Saturday afternoon to lead the Canadians to a 3-0 victory.
Sunday, five different players scored to lead the Canadians to a 5-2 win.
“We had a poor first game . . . nervous kids possibly,” said Ice assistant coach Brian Jones.
“We were out shot badly but goalie Jason Mailhiot was outstanding for us.”
Despite the poor start the game was scoreless until the second when Uy scored his first of two in the game.
Greater Vancouver added to the lead with a pair in the third.
Sunday, Kootenay once again got behind but this time rallied to cut the margin to 3-2 midway through the second period as Luke Madge and Garrett Patterson scored for the Ice.
Kootenay came within a whisker of tying the game when a shot rattled off the crossbar.
However, Sami Pharaon scored late in the frame to restore the two-goal advantage for Greater Vancouver.
Solomon Burk was solid between the pipes for Kootenay.
The Ice return to the ice at home base in Nelson for practice before taking to the road Saturday for a two-game set against the Thompson Blazers in Kamloops.
The first home date for Kootenay is Saturday, October 18 against the Valley West Hawks at the NDCC Arena in Nelson.
