The 2016 Midget Tier 3 BC Championship wrapped up last week with a second-place victory for the home team and a financial stimulus for the tourism industry on the Sunshine Coast.
The gold medal game on March 17 came down to the Sunshine Coast against Whistler. Tensions were running high into the third period with the teams tied at 2-2 and the clock running into the final seconds.
Fans were on the edge of their seats expecting the game to go into overtime as the puck moved back and forth across the ice and shot after shot was deflected by goalies at opposing ends of the rink.
With 20 seconds to go, Whistler scored a lucky bounce shot into the home team’s net, taking the gold medal and leaving silver to the Sunshine Coast Blues.
“At the end of the day I could never be more proud of a group,” Blues head coach Kelly Cousins said. “Being able to see that we could compete where we thought we’d be. That was our goal at the beginning of the year – to try to hang a provincial banner. We just fell a little short.”
Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association (SCMHA) chair Brenda Rowe said that final estimates put the total number of visitors to the Gibsons and Area Community Centre at 12,000 people over the entire five-day tournament.
“I thought it was pretty amazing – it far exceeded my expectations as far as turnout goes,” Rowe said.
Many of these were repeats – people who went to more than one game – but Rowe said that all of the Sunshine Coast Blues games had turnouts of at least 700 to 800 hockey fans.
“What’s left the biggest impression is how these 14 boys ignited something here on the Coast,” Rowe said. “That didn’t just start in January when we started this. It started in 2009 when they began playing together. It’s just come to fruition.”
After playing together for the past seven years, the gold medal game against Whistler was the last midget game for three of the local boys. Team captain Justin Macey, assistant captain Cam McAllister and Myles Killackey are moving on.
“I could never be more proud of the guys. We just stepped up when we had to and they played fantastic,” Cousins said. “The community support was incredible. The boys definitely played their hearts out. They were playing for each other and for everybody in the building there. It was really cool to see.”
Watching the team progress and getting to see their hard work pay off meant a lot to Rowe.
“They’re so focused. They’ve always been so focused,” she said. “Even in the off-season – you know, they’re teenagers, they do stupid things – but there’s no concerns with drugs or alcohol or any of that sort of stuff.
“They’re committed to each other just because they’ve played together since they were this tall,” Rowe said, indicating the height of a small child.
Tourist accommodations in Gibsons and Sechelt benefitted from the influx of visitors on the Coast. Colleen Clark, executive director at the Sechelt Chamber of Commerce, said that hotels were booked solid.
“Basically what it comes down to is the tourism-related businesses like hotels were all full and restaurants and coffee shops saw a steady stream of parents and hockey players,” Clark said. “Because it was such a busy weekend for them, a lot were living at the arena, watching games. I don’t know that retail in Sechelt felt a big impact from this.”
Hotels in Gibsons were also fully booked, according to Rowe. Restaurants also fared quite well.
Rowe said some restaurant owners in Gibsons told organizers they’ve had a record-breaking week.
Talent scouts were on the Coast for the championship with their eyes fixed on the medal winning teams. For a few skilled – and lucky – players, this championship could only be the beginning.
See our online galleries for more photos of the final game.
