Byram & Ice prove bantam draft a complex beast

Originally published in the Cranbrook Townsman/Kimberley Bulletin (May 12, 2016)

The Western Hockey League Bantam Draft is a complex beast, especially for kids weighing their options and mapping their future.

Yes, we are talking about kids as old as 15, some as young as 14 years, tasked with the challenge of making a major life decision with immense pressure weighing down upon them from every discernible direction.

On the flip side of the equation, WHL franchises are presented with an opportunity to brighten their future by adding a young thoroughbred to the stable. A miss step can leave any club reeling before falling behind in the annual horse race towards the WHL post-season.

The aforementioned shouldn’t come as news to anyone who follows major junior hockey in Canada, but what I’m working towards might surprise some fans and citizens in Cranbrook.

Cranbrook native Bowen Byram selected third overall by Vancouver Giants at WHL Bantam Draft

Originally published in the Cranbrook Townsman/Kimberley Bulletin (May 5, 2016)

CALGARY — The Vancouver Giants got their man, selecting Cranbrook native Bowen Byram third overall at the 27th annual WHL Bantam Draft, Thursday morning at Hotel Arts in Calgary.

Kootenay Ice acquire Taphorn twin from Vancouver Giants

Originally published in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman/Kimberley Daily Bulletin (Jan. 10, 2016)

Kootenay Ice general manager Jeff Chynoweth kept things relatively low key on WHL trade deadline day after making his big splash last Sunday with the trade of captain Luke Philp to the Red Deer Rebels.

Chynoweth swung one deal as the WHL trade deadline rolled in Sunday at 12 p.m. (Mountain), acquiring the rights to 16-year-old forward Kaeden Taphorn from the Vancouver Giants in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

Wheels keep turning as Ice drop seventh straight

Originally published in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman/Kimberley Daily Bulletin (Dec. 7, 2015)

The wheels on the bus go round and round, but the rubber on the Kootenay Ice wagon isn’t doing much more than spinning as the team finds itself mired in a season-long, seven-game skid following back-to-back losses to the Vancouver Giants (8-17-2-2) and Victoria Royals (19-8-1-1) Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Ice head to Vancouver desperate for victory

Ice forward Austin Wellsby. – Taylor Rocca Photo

Originally published in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman/Kimberley Daily Bulletin (Dec. 3, 2015)

Life on the road is never easy for a junior hockey player and no one in the Kootenay Ice dressing room expected a season-long, five-game road trip through the B.C. Division was going to be quite as sweet as a coastal breeze.

“With it being our first really long road trip of the year, a lot of the young guys haven’t experienced this before,” said sophomore winger Austin Wellsby, prior to leaving Cranbrook earlier this week. “We’re just going to have to do our best to show them how it goes and hopefully we can play well on the road.”

To this point, the Ice have been handed back-to-back losses in the Okanagan/Interior region, falling to the Kamloops Blazers 5-1 Tuesday before dropping a 4-1 decision to the WHL-leading Kelowna Rockets Wednesday.

With the Pacific Ocean in sight, the Ice (6-21-2-0) hope to begin salvaging this season-long trek west when they visit the Vancouver Giants (7-16-2-2) Friday at Pacific Coliseum.