This town should be proud of these 100 Mile House Wranglers, which led the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference following a three-out-of-four-point road trip through Revelstoke and North Okanagan, says coach Dale Hladun.
Through 20 games, the local Kootenay International Junior Hockey League club's conditioning, goaltending and will to win are exemplary.
After a 3-2 overtime loss to the Grizzlies in Revelstoke on Nov. 6, 100 Mile House beat the North Okanagan Knights 4-1 on Nov. 7, with 14 skaters on the roster.
The Wranglers had a short bench to begin the trip, and forwards Michael Lynch and Kyle Lindstrom had to drop back on defence after Tavis Roch was injured in Revelstoke, and 100 Mile was down to three defenceman.
“Michael Lynch, as a defenceman, he can win the Norris Trophy for our league, he was so good,” Hladun says with a laugh. “But our guys, they stepped up. They controlled that game, as shorthanded as we were. I'm in awe of the character of this crew.”
Back up goalie Adam Derochie was stellar with 41 saves against North Okanagan, including a huge glove save the Knights thought was a sure goal.
“He pulled a rabbit out of a hat, it was nuts,” says Hladun of Derochie's save. “The red light went on and [North Okanagan] did a fly by the bench. And [Derochie] had it in his glove. He was holding it in front of the ref.”
Giving credit to both his goalies, Hladun says Derochie, 18, has been “equal to the task” as starting goalie Zane Steeves has been this season.
“I'm really impressed with young Derochie.”
Hladun says the Wranglers' fitness level right now is through the roof, giving credit to their commitment and spin classes at Action Fitness in 100 Mile.
“It's a unique dressing room,” the coach notes. “They really do play for each other. This is a true band of brothers. There's always another guy that steps up... There's not one guy I'm disappointed with at all on the weekend. They hunkered down and got the job done.”
“The sky is the limit,” Hladun adds.
While Brett Harris and Alex Meeker are not expected to return and Roch is questionable, the coach thinks Tyler Povelofskie, Kolten Carpenter and Todd Bredo will be back for upcoming games (after press time) against Revelstoke in 100 Mile House on Nov. 10; Summerland in 100 Mile on Nov. 13; in Williams Lake against Summerland on Nov. 14; and Sicamous in 100 Mile House on Nov. 15.
Hladun is also expecting to call up some affiliated players for some of those games.
In the 4-1 win over the North Okanagan Knights, Kolby Page, Cole Zimmerman (2) and
Nick McCabe scored for the Wranglers. McCabe, Ryan Friesen, Brady Ward, Stephen Egan, Lynch (2), and Justin Bond made assists.
In Revelstoke, Ward, from Liam Cumberbirch and Bond, scored in the second period to tie the game, 1-1, while Cumberbirch, from Tate Page, scored early in the first to tie the game 2-2.
Steeves made 33 saves in net for the Wranglers.
Because of the Remembrance Day holiday, the Nov. 10 game at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre between Revelstoke and the 100 Mile House Wranglers took place after press time. Visit the 100 Mile House Free Press online at www.100milefreepress.net for regular Wranglers coverage and updates.