Penticton Western News Wednesday, May 13, 2015
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Popowich highest OHA draft in WHL Western News Staff
Just like last year, the Okanagan Hockey Academy had 12 players selected in the 2015 Western Hockey League bantam draft May 7. Surrey’s Tyler Popowich of the bantam prep team became the highest OHA product chosen at third overall by the Vancouver Giants. In 19 regular season and playoff games in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League (CSSHL), Popowich, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, scored 11 goals and added 12 assists to go with 27 penalty minutes. “Tyler is a big centre with tons of upside,” said Giants general manager Scott Bonner on the club’s website. “He competes, scores and makes plays. The last big centre we had as an organization was James Wright, and that draft class of players born in 1990 was highly successful. We’re excited to welcome Tyler to the hockey club.” The feeling was mutual for Popowich. “I’m excited to play for the Giants and play in the WHL,” said the 15-year-old. “Going to Vancouver is special because I grew up watching the Giants.” Following Popowich was Kelowna’s Mitchell Prowse selected by the Victoria Royals at 35th overall. “Mitchell has pro potential,” said Royals assistant general manager and of player personnel Grant Armstrong on the club’s website. “He is a very good
defender with solid offensive instincts. We believe he is going to be a tremendous fit for our program.” In 22 CSSHL games, the 6-foot1, 180-pound blue liner had one goal and 10 points with 30 penalty minutes. In the CSSHL championship, he had a goal and three points in four games. Revelstoke’s Seth Bafaro was Tyler Popowich taken by the Tri-City Americans at 49th. At 70th overall was Kamloops product Ty Kolle to the Portland Winterhawks; Quesnel’s Brandon Peacock went to the Brandon Wheat Kings at 88th; West Kelowna’s Kelti Jeri-Leon went to the Americans at 93rd; Kelvin Hair of North Vancouver was chosen by the Kelowna Rockets 113th overall, then two Dawson Creek products in Riley Krane and Tanner Bahm went 168th and 180th overall to the Regina Pats and Kamloops Blazers, respectively. The Prince George Cougars selected Kitimat’s Zach Minaker at 183rd, then the Winterhawks nabbed Aldergrove’s Jonathan Rees at 193. The last OHA product selected was Manning, Alta’s., Adam Evanoff by the Moose Jaw Warriors at 219th overall.
sports
Strong play nets Mustangs first tennis OK Valley title Emanuel Sequeira Western News Staff
The Princess Margaret Mustangs tennis team was perfect on its way to winning its first AA Okanagan Valley championship in eight years. Mustangs coach Jim Kocsis said his team played their most inspired tennis in their final match, dominating Vernon’s Fulton Secondary 9-2 on May 6. “An outstanding accomplishment for the team and the program,” said Kocsis. “The program has been growing steadily in numbers with over 20 members in our club/team this season and the commitment by our athletes has been exemplary.” On the boys’ side, Colton Van Camp and Tyrell Buckley teamed up to win three of their four doubles matches, as did Harry Gill and Manmeet Singh. Nikhil Mohan went undefeated in the boys’ singles and teamed up with Anouk Pabst to win two of three mixed doubles matches. In girls doubles play, Jaquelyn Ford and Taylor Corrie won three of
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Val Eibner scored 37 stable ford points to win the first flight in Summerland Golf and Country Club ladies action May 5. Eibner won for 18 holes, while Amanda McConaghy and Vi Ward scored 19 points over nine holes. Diana Leitch’s 39 was the best score in 18 holes in the second flight, while Lynne Karaim scored 17 over nine. In the final flight, Norma Chambers and Julie Macaulay carded 40 points over 18, while Ellen Clay and Barb Davis scored 16 over nine holes.
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“We did the best we could with what we had due to a very good group of character kids, but Nic was the main reason why this team overachieved during the regular season. I’ve been coaching in the AJHL for five seasons and I’ve never seen a player have more of a positive impact on his team.” Renyard played for the Vees in 2012-13 and posted a 10-6 record with one shut out, a 2.24 goals against average and .919 save percentage. Gary Wilson’s team with Bob Preston, Ron Murphy and John Perry carded 120 to take the Penticton senior men’s golf action on May 5. Close behind with 122 was Paul Bourque, Bevan Eathorne, Stan Wiskel and Fred Fedorak.
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Renyard named CJHL’s top goalie
Former Penticton Vees goalie Nic Renyard was named the winner of the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top goaltender award, beating a field of five including current Vees goalie Hunter Miska. The CJHL made the announcement Friday. Renyard, who is committed to the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in Hockey East, won 30 of his 43 games with the Okotoks Oilers and posted a 2.19 goals against average with a .924 save percentage and five shutouts. Renyard’s efforts earned him the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s most valuable player and top goalie awards. The 20-year-old had a record-setting season with the Oilers with the lowest goals against average. The Victoria native joined the Oilers in September and started the season by going 12-0-1. “We took a chance on Nic and made room to give him an opportunity to take over the #1 job in Okotoks – the rest is history,” wrote Oilers coach James Poole in a letter of reference for the national award. Okotoks wasn’t the most skilled team in the AJHL, admitted Poole in a story on Renyard on the CJHL website, but with their goaltending cemented, there was no stopping them.
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that allowed the Mariners to get a double-play and get out of the inning. Quinn Shauer made his debut bringing another positive attitude. The Mariners’ most improved player of the week was Roberto Schiavone. His defensive play was strong as well as how he’s been attacking the ball when trying to hit it. The Mariners’ coaching staff has also been very happy with the positive attitude among the players. “If someone bobbles a ball or strikes out no one gets down, everyone realizes that they win and lose as a team not individuals,” said Wilson.
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Clutch hitting and great defensive plays led to the Penticton Mariners peewee A baseball team sweeping two West Kelowna teams on the weekend. It started with a 20-14 win over the Reds Saturday, then the White Sox 14-11. Against the Reds, coach Allen Wilson described the match as a slugfest and watched Xander Whyte and Anthony Alexis smash doubles to drive runs in and fire up the Mariners. Defensively. Taya Kampe had another impressive outing as she made a great catch in left field to deflate the Reds. To end the game, Zack Wilson dove
to make a catch. Alexis was also strong on the mound. Still reeling from the first win against the Reds, the Mariners stayed strong on the bats and used their speed to steal bases. The Mariners also received strong pitching from Tyler Witkowski and Whyte, while McGarry Allen closed the game. “The biggest highlight for the team was an in-the-park homerun by Miguel Monteiro which was celebrated by the whole team,” said Wilson. Angus Bews and Wyatt Bogle were a force sharing second base duties and kept the ball out of the outfield. Krystopher Roy made a running catch at center field
four matches. Also having solid efforts in doubles action were Rochelle Diaz, Belle Grant, Azumi Misagi, Adrian Langrehr and Bishal Khatri. “The students played to the best of their ability and implemented a lot of what we have been working on in practice in their match play,” said Kocsis. Throughout the season Kocsis and his coaching staff of Rob Lindemann and Lori Grant placed a focus on making high percentage plays. That focus will not change as they get ready to represent the Okanagan with Fulton and Sa-Hali from Kamloops at the provincial championship in Vancouver from May 28-30. While at provincials, Kocsis said they want to improve on their 11th place result last year.
RON GERK PICK
Mariners down Reds, White Sox Western News Staff
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