Special Features - Meet the Ghostriders 2013

Player

Get your favorite

PLAYER’S

portrait’s and Bio

autographs!

2013

2014

Meet The 2013-2014

Fernie Ghostriders FERNIE'S #1 TEAM NANCY J MCNAY Prec & SANDRA GOODE 877-423-8882 877-423-8972 www.realfernie.com or info@realfernie.com Re/Max Elk Valley Realty 250-423-4444 1241-7th Ave Fernie, BC

Providing over 27 years of Experience whether you are Buying, Selling, or Investing.

Go Ghostriders! TEAM SPIRIT!

FERNIE

THE FREE PRESS, September 19, 2013

Welcome Back to a

NEW SEASON RIDERS!

Garrett Ready Mix would like to wish the

Our business is built on a foundation of quality concrete & dependable service!

SPARWOOD, BC 250-425-7772

Ghostriders the best of luck in their upcoming season.

FERNIE, BC 250-423-7719

“Fresh Fernie Experiences”

Sa 100 Guatisfac% ran tion tee d

The Difference is Taste

t Take-ou or Delivery

Mountains of toppings and an avalanche of taste Gluten free crust available

Gift certificates available

Feeding the Ghostrider Fans for over 14 years!

Look for Upcoming Deals and Give-a-ways!

• Thin, Regular or Whole Wheat Crust • Build Your Own Pizza • 36 Toppings & 9 Sauces

• Awesome Lasagna • Salads, Wings & More...

• $12.00 Pizza Every Tuesday!

Call for Daily Specials Open at 4:00 pm

250-423-0007 592 - 8th Avenue, Fernie, BC

C2

MEET THE GHOSTRIDERS

Welcome to the 2013/2014 season

W

elcome to another season of Ghostrider Hockey! We are excited for another great season of action, tough competition and success.

The season will see a new face on the bench and I would like to welcome Dale Hladun to our team as the GM and Head Coach. He brings to the Ghostriders an in depth knowledge of hockey and successful teams.

I would also like to thank Phil Iddon for all of the years of dedicated service to the Fernie Ghostriders as President.

Phil will continue to help the Ghostriders both with support as the Past President and our Marketing Director. I would also like to congratulate Phil on his new post

as Vice President with the KIJHL. Phil’s knowledge and passion for the game will be a great addition to the League Looking forward to our upcoming season and working with a great executive, volunteers and fans which will support our players throughout the season. Thank you to the City of Fernie for preparing the arena for our season, all of your hard work has not gone unnoticed!

If you are interested in getting involved with the Ghostriders, please check our website out at www.fernieghostriders. com, we are always in need of volunteers.

Barb Anderson President of the Ghostriders

C3

THE FREE PRESS, September 19, 2013

MEET THE GHOSTRIDERS

Barb Anderson appointed president of the Ghostriders

I

The new president of the Fernie Ghostriders, Barb Anderson.

Submitted photo

THE

ONS

E I N FER RIDERS T S O GH

D SP U O PR

- GO ERS RID GO -

develop their new brand, and recognition this year as a sports leader with Teck.

“It was a real honour to be recognized… t has been a summer of changes at the they were pretty neat achievements,” said Fernie Ghostriders, not only with the Anderson. arrival of a new head coach but also Of course, Anderson is keen to continue the announcement of Barb Anderson as watching the development of the players, the new President of the club. Anderson both on and off the ice. She is a strong is full of praise for her predecessor, Phil Iddon, who retired this year after believer in giving back to the community serving twelve seasons as President: that supports the team so well and is enthusiastic about some of “Phil is an amazing man, the upcoming events that the he worked very hard for the “We really try to Ghostriders will be involved Ghostriders… he did a great get [the players] in. This year will see another job and not a lot is going involved with the ‘Drive One 4 UR Community’ to change”. Anderson also community and credits the entire executive barbeque and fundraiser team for their dedication, to give back. It’s with Fernie Ford on the the majority of whom served really important” 28th of September, and alongside Iddon and are the dedication of October continuing on this season.

Barb Anderson as ‘Cancer Month’, where With 20 years of involvement President of the custom jerseys will be in the hockey scene of the Fernie Ghostriders auctioned off in support Elk Valley and two sons of the Fernie Friends for who both previously played Friends program. “We really for the Ghostriders, Anderson has an try to get [the players] involved with impressive record of her own. From the community,” said Anderson, “and to overseeing the merger of Sparwood and Elkford Minor Hockey Associations, to the give back. It’s really important”. Other formation of a local girls’ team, Anderson programs include volunteering at charity has been an invaluable member of the events, schools and the Rocky Mountain hockey community. Her commitment Village, as well as the opportunity to hire was rewarded through an RBC Award players to assist with odd jobs. “We’re in 2005, allowing the then-fledgling Elk very proud of that, of the things our kids Valley Minor Hockey Association to more do, and it’s good. It’s a really positive comfortably equip their players and thing”.

By Sara Moulton Contributor

OF ORS

Wishing the Ghostriders a Great 2013/2014 Season!

1492 HIGHWAY 3, FERNIE, BC * 250-423-9211 www.fernieford.ca * sales@fernieford.ca

120

C4 THE FREE PRESS, September 19, 2013

THE FREE PRESS, September 19, 2013

Meet the 2013/2014

FERNIE GHOSTRIDERS 7

Travis Thomsen

Position: Defense Hometown: Elko, BC Height: 5’9” Weight: 185 lbs Nickname: Tommy

8

#

#

Joel BURGESS

Austin HIRANO

Position: Wing Hometown: Jaffray, BC Height: 5’11” Weight: 180 lbs Nickname: Burg

2

#

Position: Centre/Left Wing Hometown: Fernie, BC Height: 5’9” Weight: 155 lbs Nickname: Hirano Daddy Fresh

10

9

#

#

David Barbour

Kale Johnston

Position: Wing Hometown: Powell River, BC Height: 5’9” Weight: 180 lbs Nickname:

Position: Centre Hometown: Coquitlam, BC Height: 6’1” Weight: 175 lbs Nickname: Barbs

3

4

#

Dylan ROBERTSON

Position: Centre Hometown: Sparwood, BC Height: 6’3” Weight: 185 lbs Nickname: Rip

#

Josh Teves

Position: Defense Hometown: Calgary, AB Height: 5’11” Weight: 160 lbs Nickname: Tevs

12

14

#

Aidan Geiger

Position: Centre Hometown: Calgary, AB Height: 6’0” Weight: 150 lbs Nickname: Geigs

#

Ben Primeau

Position: Centre Hometown: Edmonton, AB Height: 6’3” Weight: 200 lbs Nickname: Preems

5

#

Cole Weber

Position: Defense Hometown: Fraser Lake, BC Height: 6’2” Weight: 225 lbs Nickname: Webs

17

#

Kurtis Bond

Position: Right Wing Hometown: Williams Lake, BC Height: 6’3” Weight: 185 lbs Nickname: Bondo

6

#

Randy Teeple

Position: Defense Hometown: Fernie, BC Height: 5’11” Weight: 210 lbs Nickname: Teeps

18

#

Spencer Bender

Position: Left Wing Hometown: Calgary, AB Height: 6’0” Weight: 180 lbs Nickname: Bender

Photo Not Available

20

#

Greyson Reitmeier

Position: Centre Hometown: Nakusp, BC Height: 6’3” Weight: 180 lbs Nickname: Reits

21

#

Estevan Hale

Position: Defense Hometown: Calgary, AB Height: 5’11” Weight: 190 lbs Nickname: Esty

22

23

#

Aaron Neufeld

Position: Forward Hometown: Calgary, AB Height: 5’9” Weight: 160 lbs Nickname: Neuf

#

Trevor Beaton

Position: Defense Hometown: Delta, BC Height: 6’1” Weight: 200 lbs Nickname: Beats

24

27

#

Nathan Luznar-Purdy Position: Wing Hometown: Fernie, BC Height: 6’0” Weight: 185 lbs Nickname: Nater

#

Colby Burns

Position: Wing Hometown: Sparwood, BC Height: 5’10” Weight: 160 lbs Nickname: Burnsy

28

#

Justin Mitchell

Position: Wing Hometown: Lethbridge, AB Height: 5’11” Weight: 190 lbs Nickname: JMitchy

Welcome TO A NEW SEASON OF THE

31

#

Austin Wells

Position: Goalie Hometown: Calgary, AB Height: 5’10” Weight: 160 lbs Nickname: Wellsy

31

#

Valley’s Best Hockey!

Phoenix Logan-Hill

Position: Goalie Hometown: Port Moody, BC Height: 6’3” Weight: 198 lbs Nickname: Pheens

Est. 1898

proudly supports

Jesse Shenton

Position: Goalie Hometown: Calgary, AB Height: 5’8” Weight: 145 lbs Nickname: Shents

30

#

Looking forward to the 2013 –14 hockey season.

(250) 423-4222 1791 9th Ave Fernie

C5

C6 THE FREE PRESS, September 19, 2013

MEET THE GHOSTRIDERS

Have Fernie welcomes new a great head coach and season!

Jay's Jewellers 652 2nd Ave, Fernie 250-423-7814

Good luck Ghostriders, have a great season!

From Pierre, Kristine, and all the staff at Timmies in Fernie.

Fall Savings Event September 20 & 21 Showroom Discounts with up to 30% off chosen floor models

general manager

many promising opportunities for the upcoming season.

This season’s roster will include the hen Dale ‘Duner’ Hladun return of Ben Primeau (#4), Joel Burgess arrived in Fernie at the beginning of June, it didn’t take (#7), Aaron Neufeld (#26) and local players long for him to feel the welcoming spirit Austin Hirano (#8) and Dylan Robertson (#3). In addition, Duner is of the town. In fact, he had excited to introduce Kurtis only just pulled up to his “Hopefully I’ll have, Bond, who joins the team new home when he was first after scoring an impressive recognised by an enthusiastic over the next few years, a lot more Ghostriders fan. “I’m just 50 points for Princeton last guys to throw like ‘wow, you guys know season. “I think the fans onto that Wall of what’s going on!’” he says, are going to really like with a laugh. A long-time Fame”” Kurtis,” says the coach. resident of British Columbia, “He’s a great person and a Duner began at the Kelowna Dale Hladun big, strong, skilled player”.

Minor Hockey Association Ghostrider Along with Primeau, Duner in the early 1990s before Head Coach and expects the 20-year-old Bond spending time in Quesnel, General Manager to bring leadership to his Bozeman, Cowitchan and younger teammates. While Lake Powell. He comes to awaiting the outcome of try-outs and the Ghostriders following almost nine years with the Princeton Posse, during camps at other levels can make a coach which time he is proud to have developed somewhat nervous, Duner is supportive players who have since been drafted and of those seeking to further their careers even played professionally in Germany. and understands that losing a player to Duner is confident about his prospects a higher level is an achievement to be of helping his team members to reach proud of. He speaks with pride about their goals: “In Fernie, the way they run his previous success stories and his it, I would assume that I can get some desire to build on the Ghostrider legacy: pretty good level kids through over the “Hopefully I’ll have, over the next few next few years... it’s a neat challenge, years, a lot more guys to throw onto that it’s like I’ve got a big easel here and all Wall of Fame”. the paint. So I’ll see what I can do!”.

The Fernie Ghostriders next play at the With a busy past few months of scouting Fernie Memorial Arena at 7.30 pm Friday and hockey schools, there are certainly 20 September.

By Sara Moulton Contributor

W

Discounts on all Yeti Coolers Raffle tickets to win a trailer load of firewood ~ all proceeds to charity BBQ ~ Hot Dogs, Chips & Pop with donations to charity Wood, Gas & Pellet Stoves Fireplace Inserts Chimney Parts & Accessories Hearth & Home Accessories Vintage Signs Yeti Coolers

24 Manitou Rd 250-423-4216

Fernie Ghostriders new head coach and general manager, Dale ‘Duner’ Hladun.

Photo by Sara Moulton

THE FREE PRESS, September 19, 2013

C7

MEET THE GHOSTRIDERS

RADIO

broadcast live on

Fernie 2013 - 2014 Regular Season Schedule SA 07-Sep 8:00P MST Fernie VS. Golden Rockets Golden Arena SU 08-Sep 1:00P MST Sicamous Eagles VS. Fernie Golden Arena FR 13-Sep 7:00P PST Fernie VS. Sicamous Eagles Sicamous & District Recreation Centre SA 14-Sep 7:00P PST Fernie VS. Chase Heat Chase - Art Holding Memorial Arena FR 20-Sep 7:30P MST Sicamous Eagles VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 21-Sep 7:00P MST Fernie VS. Kimberley Dynamiters Kimberley Civic Centre FR 27-Sep 7:30P PST Fernie VS. Creston Valley Thunder Cats Creston - Johnny Bucyk Arena SA 28-Sep 7:30P MST Chase Heat VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena FR 04-Oct 7:30P MST Golden Rockets VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 05-Oct 7:30P MST Fernie VS. Golden Rockets Golden Arena FR 11-Oct 7:30P MST Creston Valley Thunder Cats VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena

SA 12-Oct 7:00P PST Fernie VS. Grand Forks Border Bruins Grand Forks Arena FR 18-Oct 7:30P PST Fernie VS. Creston Valley Thunder Cats Creston - Johnny Bucyk Arena SA 19-Oct 7:30P MST Creston Valley Thunder Cats VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena FR 25-Oct 7:30P MST Fernie VS. Columbia Valley Rockies Invermere - Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena SA 26-Oct 7:30P MST Golden Rockets VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena FR 01-Nov 7:30P MST Fernie VS. Columbia Valley Rockies Invermere - Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena SA 02-Nov 7:30P MST Golden Rockets VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena FR 08-Nov 7:30P MST Grand Forks Border Bruins VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 09-Nov 7:30P PST Fernie VS. Beaver Valley Nitehawks Fruitvale - Beaver Valley Arena SU 10-Nov 7:30P MST Kamloops Storm VS. Fernie

Wishing the Ghostriders a great season!

2001 Highway 3, Fernie (250) 423-3892

Fernie Memorial Arena FR 15-Nov 7:30P MST Fernie VS. Golden Rockets Golden Arena SA 16-Nov 7:30P MST Kimberley Dynamiters VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 23-Nov 7:00P PST Fernie VS. Spokane Braves Spokane - Eagles Ice-A-Rena FR 29-Nov 7:30P MST Fernie VS. Columbia Valley Rockies Invermere - Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena SA 30-Nov 7:30P MST Kimberley Dynamiters VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena WE 04-Dec 7:30P MST Fernie VS. Golden Rockets Golden Arena FR 06-Dec 7:30P MST Nelson Leafs VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 07-Dec 7:30P MST Creston Valley Thunder Cats VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena FR 13-Dec 7:30P PST Fernie VS. Castlegar Rebels Castlegar Complex SA 14-Dec 7:30P MST Castlegar Rebels VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena TU 17-Dec 7:30P MST Fernie VS. Columbia Valley Rockies Invermere - Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena

FR 20-Dec 7:30P MST Columbia Valley Rockies VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 28-Dec 7:30P MST Kimberley Dynamiters VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SU 29-Dec 6:00P MST Fernie VS. Kimberley Dynamiters Kimberley Civic Centre MO 30-Dec 7:30P MST Columbia Valley Rockies VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena TU 31-Dec 7:30P PST Fernie VS. Creston Valley Thunder Cats Creston - Johnny Bucyk Arena FR 03-Jan 7:30P MST 100 Mile House Wranglers VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 04-Jan 7:30P MST Kimberley Dynamiters VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena FR 10-Jan 7:30P MST Revelstoke Grizzlies VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 11-Jan 7:30P MST Fernie VS. Golden Rockets Golden Arena FR 17-Jan 7:00P PST Fernie VS. Revelstoke Grizzlies Revelstoke Forum SA 18-Jan 7:00P PST Fernie VS. 100 Mile House Wranglers 100 Mile House - South Cariboo Rec Center

SU 19-Jan 5:00P PST Fernie VS. Kamloops Storm Kamloops - McArthur Park Arena FR 24-Jan 7:30P PST Fernie VS. Creston Valley Thunder Cats Creston - Johnny Bucyk Arena SA 25-Jan 7:30P MST Columbia Valley Rockies VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena TH 30-Jan 7:30P MST Creston Valley Thunder Cats VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena FR 31-Jan 7:30P MST Beaver Valley Nitehawks VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 01-Feb 7:00P PST Fernie VS. Nelson Leafs Nelson Community Complex FR 07-Feb 7:30P MST Spokane Braves VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SU 09-Feb 7:30P MST Golden Rockets VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 15-Feb 7:00P MST Fernie VS. Kimberley Dynamiters Kimberley Civic Centre SU 16-Feb 7:30P MST Columbia Valley Rockies VS. Fernie Fernie Memorial Arena SA 22-Feb 7:00P MST Fernie VS. Kimberley Dynamiters Kimberley Civic Centre

Have a great season!

From Phil at....

FERNIE AUTO PARTS #2 Manitou Road • 250-423-4627

C8 THE FREE PRESS, September 19, 2013

MEET THE GHOSTRIDERS

The story of the Fernie Ghostriders

By Angela Treharne Free Press Staff

T

he Fernie Ghostriders are a junior ‘B’ ice hockey team based in Fernie. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Ghostriders play their home games at the Fernie Memorial Arena. Barb Anderson is the new team president, and Dale (Dunner) Hladun is the new general manager and coach.

The Ghostriders joined the KIJHL in 2004 as an expansion team, after they played junior ‘A’ in the RMJHL from 1991-99; the AWHL from 1999-2003; and the NAHL from 2003-04. In its RMJHL history, the team has won one division playoff title as a member of the Kootenay Division from 1991-1996. In its AWHL history, the Ghostriders have won the Bourne Cup once, in 1999. In its KIJHL history, the team has won the KIJHL Championship twice, in 2007 and 2008. They won two division playoff titles as a member of the Eddie Mountain Division from 2004-2007, one playoff title as a member of the

Eastern Division of the Neil Murdoch Conference from 20072008 and four consecutive playoff titles as a member of the Eddie Mountain Division from 20082012; one conference playoff title as a member of the Kootenay Conference from 2007-2012.

The Ghostriders takes its name from the Ghost Rider, an iconic shadow that appears on Mount Hosmer and is visible from the city. Mount Hosmer appears on the team’s current and past logo.

The Ghostriders began in 1991 as one of the charter members of the Southern Division of the now defunct Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (RMJHL).

The Ghostriders missed the 1993 season but came back with a vengeance, capturing the Southern Division in 1994.

In 1996, after not qualifying to make the playoffs the year prior, the Ghostriders dramatically improved, making it to the Finals, but only to lose to the historyrich Prince George Spruce Kings, four-games-to-one. The following year, looking for vengeance after losing the RMJHL Championship the year before, the Ghostriders once again made it to the Finals, this time being swept four-

games-to-none to the regular season lead-leading Cranbrook Colts. In 1998, after making it to the Finals two years in a row, they got beat four-games-toone, in the Semifinals, by the same team who beat them for the championship the previous year, the Cranbrook Colts. The next year the Ghostriders made it to the last-ever RMJHL Finals, losing to the league lead-leading Kimberley Dynamiters fourgames-to-two.

When the RMJHL folded in 1999 the Ghostriders moved to the America West Hockey League (AWHL), winning the championship in 2000, and made an appearance in the Gold Cup National Championship. The Ghostriders were US Junior National Gold Cup Bronze Medal Winners in 2003.

They played in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for one season before their move down, but their franchise rights were sold to a Kalamazoo, Michigan based group.

In 2004 the Ghostriders moved down to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), opting to be a

large fish in the junior ‘B’ pond rather than a small fish in the junior ‘A’ pond. The Ghostriders immediately made a mark on the KIJHL, finishing third overall in 2006 and winning their division.

In arguably their finest season ever, the Ghostriders dramatically won the 2007 championship in come-from-behind fashion on home ice against the Nelson Leafs, but did not fare as well in the 2007 Cyclone Taylor Cup, losing all of their games. The following year they won the championship again, this time on the road in Kamloops against the Kamloops Storm and also winning bronze in the 2008 Cyclone Taylor Cup against the Victoria Cougars, the 2008 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions.

In 2009 with the Ghostriders looking for a three-peat, the Fernie-based squad made it to the semifinals of the KIJHL, only to lose to the Nelson Leafs in the best of five series. The next year they made it all the way to the Kootenay Conference Final, but only to lose to the Nelson Leafs four-games-to-one in the best of seven series. In 2011 the

Ghostriders once again made it to the Conference Final, but they lost four-games-to-two against the Castlegar Rebels. Looking for redemption after the Ghostriders lost to the Rebels in the third round of the playoffs, they hosted the 2011 Cyclone Taylor Cup, the BC junior ‘B’ provincial championships making it to the gold medal game, in front of a sold out crowd at the Fernie Memorial Arena, only to lose to the VIJHL Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, the Peninsula Panthers, the same score the Ghostriders beat the Victoria Cougars for bronze in the 2008 Cyclone Taylor Cup, 5-3. The following year after winning the division playoff title and advancing to the third round of the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year, the Ghostriders lost in the Conference Final once again, this time losing to the 2012 KIJHL Champions, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, four-gamesto-one. The end of the 2012-2013 season brought more heartache to the Ghostriders, losing fourgames-to-two to the Golden Rockets in the Division Finals.

ETHERIDGE LAW provides a full range of litigation services, including: • • • Phone (250) 425-7858 Fax (250) 425-7860 Toll Free 1-800-557-3464 612 Sparwood Drive www.rosenau.org

• •

Personal Injury (motor vehicle accidents, ICBC claims) Civil (debt, property disputes) Family (divorce, support, custody and property division) Criminal Defence; and, Wills and Estates.

ANGELA ETHERIDGE

Best of luck to the Ghostriders for the 2013/14 season!

401 – 2nd Avenue (2nd Floor) Tel: 250-430-0007 angela@eastkootenaylaw.com www.eastkootenaylaw.com (by appointment only)