The Creston Chiefs peewee rep hockey team opened East Kootenay league play on the road in Cranbrook this past weekend.
On Saturday they played Cranbrook’s tier 3 team and came away with a 4-0 win. Having not played any games for a few weeks, the Chiefs struggled with getting the puck out of their end and making a simple pass. It was a very scrambled game on their part, and in games where the team is not sharp, goaltender James Porter Jr. has to be and he was.
Etienne Boutet, Brayden Jellis, Logan Rast and Kale Plotnikoff scored goals, with assists going to Plotnikoff (two), Ty Gudjonson and affiliated player Serge Chatwin, who had a solid showing in his first rep game.
The Chiefs returned to Cranbrook on Sunday to play their tier 4 squad. The Chiefs came out flying and scored early and played a much better team game, resulting in an 11-0 win. With only two lines going, short shifts and passing the puck were the difference for the locals.
Scoring was led by rookie Rast with a hat trick, and everyone else chipped in with points. Hats off to the defensive four of Boutet, Shayne Walker, Tyson Steed and Davis Nelson, who played solidly all weekend. The coaches are pleased with the start the team has made; playing defense first, along with team structure, will lead to good results.
The Chiefs’ next home game is this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. versus Invermere.
•On Saturday, the Creston Chiefs bantam rep team faced the Elk Valley bantam A team in Fernie. Despite the Creston boys’ best efforts, Elk Valley won 4-3.
An early first period goal for Creston was scored by Brody Ryan, assisted by Ethan Plotnikoff. Less than a minute later, Levi Palmer scored, assisted by Jake Kolodychuk. The second period was scoreless for Creston, as Elk Valley buried three. With two minutes in the third, Matt Toews scored, assisted by Hunter Smeaten.
On Sunday, the Chiefs battled the Cranbrook Kootenay Blues on home ice, winning 6-2.
Four goals for Creston were scored in the first period, with Jake Livingstone scoring the first 29 seconds in, assisted by Alex Blackmore. Tyler Everitt followed, assisted by Kolodychuk and Smeaton. Kenton Blackmore also scored, with assists going to Ryan and Toews. Less than a minute later, Kolodychuk scored, assisted by Everitt and Plotnikoff.
Second period goals went to Palmer, assisted by Matthew Armitage and Livingstone, and Armitage assisted by Alex and Palmer.
— CRESTON VALLEY MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION