A mass concentration of approximately 150 scouts added to the pressure of a Powell River Kings performance at the BC Hockey League (BCHL) Showcase, held in Chilliwack from Wednesday, September 21, to Sunday, September 25.
The showcase is held annually as a stage for players on all BCHL teams to impress professional, collegiate and junior hockey scouts. Heading into the event, league standings were more important to the Powell River Kings.
Kings head coach Kent Lewis said the four points available in the two games played counted more for his team than impressing scouts.
“Our guys were mature about it,” said Lewis. “It’s ongoing throughout the year.”
Scouts from the NHL, universities and other junior leagues are continuously looking for talent, but that attention does not stop when the showcase ends, said Lewis.
“These kids have to understand that every game you have to go out and make an impression; you can’t be a sometimes player. You never know who’s in the building watching. To get to the next level they have to learn consistency and be good all the time.”
In their showcase opener, Powell River handed Wenatchee Wild its first loss of the season with a 5-4 overtime win. Kyle Betts scored the winning goal, unassisted, 3:14 into the extra period.
Goaltender Brian Wilson was peppered with 50 shots compared to 24 sent his counterpart’s way.
“He played very well and, at key times, made some key stops,” said Lewis. “Shots came from everywhere. I don’t think defensively we had our best game. They had a lot of speed, but I liked the chances we generated and a lot of the chances they generated were off some defensive-zone miscues.”
Mitch Adamyk backstopped the Kings to victory in their second game of the showcase, a 5-2 win over Trail Smoke Eaters.
After a scoreless opening period, Kings scored three unanswered goals in the second, but let up early in the third while killing a penalty.
“We let up in front of our net,” said Lewis, “and allowed them to get a really strange, sloppy second goal. I liked our response to a bad start in the third period.”
Kings next game is Wednesday, September 28, against Nanaimo at Hap Parker Arena. A three-game home stand continues Friday, September 30, versus Vernon and Saturday, October 1, when Victoria comes to town.
