There are no easy wins in the Doug Birks Division – but the 100 Mile House Wranglers continue to string them together.
The newest team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League travelled to Chase and Revelstoke for divisional games on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, respectively, and 100 Mile House won them both – 3-0 against Chase and 3-2 over Revelstoke.
The Wranglers took possession of second place in the division with 27 points and a 12-9-0-3 record.
The team has won three straight, but coach/general manager Doug Rogers says he's less concerned about winning streaks or losing streaks, and more concerned at how the team plays on any given night.
“If we focus on individual games and make sure our effort is where it needs to be, the wins will look after themselves,” Rogers says. “It is the effort that I am evaluating each night and the players rarely disappoint.”
That work ethic was particularly on display at the defensive end against the Chase Heat when the Wranglers limited the Heat offence to 23 shots.
Goalie Nathan Warren was flawless in the shutout, but not that busy, and that's a credit to the entire team, Rogers adds.
Cole Zimmerman scored first for 100 Mile House in Chase. Donovan Law and Darcy Flaherty both added one in the second period. Assists on the night went to Kenny Nordstrom (2), Kevin Raimundo, Law and Zimmerman.
In Revelstoke, Flaherty opened up scoring for 100 Mile House in the first – assists by Jayden Syrota and Jaidan Ward – and Connor Sloan – assisted by Tyson Levesque and Lane Van de Wetering – added another. Michael Lynch then scored in the third – assists by Braeden St. Louis and Zimmerman – to give the Wranglers a 3-0 lead.
Revelstoke scored two later in the final frame, however, closing the gap to one.
“I was very impressed with our players during this push in the last five minutes, which included saves from Warren and multiple blocked shots that were critical to us winning,” says Rogers.
Flaherty, now in his third KIJHL season, says it's an exciting time to be a part of the Wranglers organization.
“We're moving in the right direction,” he says. “There are a lot of young guys (on the team), but the work ethic is there and everyone is ready to play game in and game out.”
Flaherty played two seasons with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats before asking for a trade to the Wranglers to be closer to his home in Williams Lake.
The 19-year-old Flaherty plays on a line with Raimundo, 20, and Brady Ward, 18.
(“Doug likes to call it the 'Vet Line',” Flaherty says.)
He admits he honestly didn't know what to expect when the season started.
“From what I've see from when I first got here to now, it's been a huge improvement. Lots of the young guys are ready and willing to be here and they're ready to get to the next level.
“Hopefully we're going to be a team that can keep on winning.”
Looking ahead, the Wranglers have two divisional games on the schedule – in Sicamous on Nov. 22, before a home game with Kamloops on Nov. 23 at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m.