It’s not too often a small town like the Hazeltons can produce a top notch minor hockey team but this year the Peewee’s are making headlines as they have just earned a berth in the Provincials.
The young team of 15 talented players won their zones last week after beating Houston and Burns Lake and qualifying for the provincial finals in Fort Nelson next week during the Spring Break.
Long-time Hazelton minor hockey coach, Ray Sturney, this is a big accomplishment he said adding he is not sure if a Hazelton Peewee team has ever made it to this level.
For the peewee’s head coach, Simon Dodd, it has been a great run this year.
“We have played almost 50 games this year and finished second in the Skeena Valley Rep league behind Terrace,” he explained.
“All year our boys have competed against tier three rep teams and held their own.
I think the fact we played against rep teams has helped us get better in many ways this year too.”
As for highlights this year outside of earning their spot in the provincials, Dodd said they have had many great successes.
“We have played in tournaments from Quesnel, Terrace, Kitimat and Houston and hosted our own which we won,” he said.
“That was a real highlight for us and so was playing Quesnel’s rep team who we tied 7-7.
“That was great as they are the best in the league and we were the only team to beat Terrace’s rep team all season.”
The 15 Hazelton players have definitely worked hard to be where they are Dodd said and their overall stats in the Skeena Valley league were 11-6-3.
“Normally Hazelton can’t compete with terrace rep teams so we have a pretty solid team this year and it’s rare that we can compete with the top gunners,” Dodd admitted.
“Our first year kids have really improved but next year we lose some of our strongest players so this year was pretty special.
“You get lucky once in awhile.”
For hockey fans looking for something to do next week, heading to Fort Nelson to cheer on the Hazelton Peewee’s might just be the place to be.