Minor Hockey this weekend.

It's getting down to the nitty-gritty for some of the local minor hockey rep teams, with playoff action this weekend. Thanks to Simon for giving me the updates on these teams!

First- The PeeWees.

PEEWEE CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE HERE SATURDAY

It is do or die for the Peewee Timbermen this weekend as they face off against Powell River in a battle for the Vancouver Island Hockey League AA Championship. The winner will also represent Vancouver Island in the AA provincials during spring break.

Alberni is the only team to defeat Powell River this season (in the quarter finals), but they had a narrow (2-4) loss last week in front of a large Powell River crowd. The Timbermen have home ice advantage for the rest of the 3 game series and they will play their best with a home town crowd supporting them.

The Peewees play in Weyerhauser at 3:30 PM on Saturday March 1^st. A win for Alberni will force a deciding game to be played on Sunday at 9:00 AM, also in Weyerhauser. So if you have a friend or relative on the team, or just feel like watching some of the best peewee hockey on Vancouver Island, come out and support your Alberni Valley Peewee Timbermen at the Multiplex.

The Peewee Timbermen are:

#1 Casey Davidson (G)
#4 Jesse Hammond (D)
#6 Liam MacLeod (F)
#7 Connor Gagnon (F)
#13 Sam Visona (F)
#14 Michael Roodbol (F)
#16 Marino Somerville
#18 Logan Savard (F)
#19 Brett Sherwood (D)
#20 Jas Sidhu (F)
#30 Bryce DiRocco (G)
#44 Dawson Marlatt (D)
#55 Nathan Read (D)
#87 Corey Beecroft (F)
#88 Beau Wilson (F)
Defenceman #17 Ryan Buse is out due to injury.

The team wants to give a big thank you to all the parents for supporting them to get to the Island Championship series, especially Head Coach Dave Beecroft, Assistant Coaches Ron Buse and Kevin Somerville, and Manager/Safety team Barb and Bruno Visona. The team also thanks their sponsors, Smitty’s Restaurant, Sassam Falling, Bowerman Excavating, Best Western Barclay Hotel, Tides Inn Bed & Breakfast and the world’s #1 Hockey Grandma.

GOOD LUCK BOYS.

Second- The Bantams.

BANTAMS PLAY FOR ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP HERE THIS WEEKEND

The Alberni Valley Bantam Timbermen play the opener in their best of three series for the Vancouver Island AA championship against Peninsula AA Eagles here at the Multiplex Saturday March 1. The series was delayed due to the number of Bantam players who participated at the British Columbia Winter Games last weekend, but the whole team will be here Saturday.

The Timbermen have not faced Peninsula since their 4-2 tiering round victory in October. Alberni is undefeated in the play-offs so far, having defeated Triport and Powell River in the quarter finals, and Kerry Park Islanders in the semi-final. In those three games the Timbermen have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 25 goals to 3.

The Bantam Timbermen are:

#1 Gianni Crema (G)
#2 Brady Janzen (F)
#3 Leo Fitzgerald (F)
#4 Myles Fitzgerald (F)
#5 Luciano Somerville (F)
#6 Gerry Fitzgerald (F)
#7 Keenan McConnell (D)
#8 Ryan White (D)
#9 Jesse York (D)
#11 Dillon Rees (F)
#14 Bryan Read (D)
#15 Dustin Diemert (D)
#16 Cameron MacAdams (F)
#17 Colin Norris (D)
#18 Jesse Ursic (D)
#20 Carson McCulloch (F)
#35 Andrew Cusson (G)

The players thank all their parents for supporting them to get to the Vancouver Island AA championship finals. They also thank Head Coach Brent Demerais, Assistant Coach Dave McConnell, conditioning coaches Dave and Jill Sherlock, Manager Janet Fitzgerald and Safety Person, Sonia Somerville and all the other behind the scenes helpers. They also thank their sponsors, G.D.M. Boom and Sort, Red Mark Ventures, and ReMax Realty.

The game Saturday is at Weyerhauser Arena starting from 12:15 to 3:15 PM. Come and cheer the Bantam Timbermen in what may be their last home game this season. After the game they travel to Victoria for the second game which will be at Panorama Arena in North Saanich at 1:00 PM Sunday. If necessary, there will be a third game back in Port Alberni on March 8^th. The series winner will be the Vancouver Island AA champion and will go on to the British Columbia provincials to be held in Summerland during spring break.