Three players from the Shuswap brought home gold medals from the 2013 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. Darien Head from Salmon Arm and Devon Pearson and Austin Willier from Chase helped Team BC make history, winning the province’s first national title in the event’s 12-year history. Hosted in Kahnawake, Que., April 29 to May 4, Team BC defeated Team Ontario by a score of 4-3 in the gold-medal game on Saturday evening.
“We are so proud to bring the gold medal home to B.C.,” said Head Coach Joe Quewezance. “It was a great week in Kahnawake. The coaching staff couldn’t be more proud of the players and everyone involved with Team BC. The hard work and dedication was unprecedented and the team dynamics were incredible…”
Heading into the tournament seeded fifth in the male division, Team BC gradually climbed the rankings through the week and landed themselves in the semi-finals against Team Manitoba.
After winning 4-3 in overtime, Team BC advanced into its first ever appearance in the NAHC’s gold-medal game against Team Ontario. With just one minute left in the game, Team Ontario pulled their goaltender, which made for an exciting finish with Team BC winning 5-3.
Pearson and Willier played their 2012/2013 season with the Chase Heat and Head with the North Okanagan Knights. Head played all his minor hockey in Salmon Arm.
Head was also selected for the Hit the Ice TV series and hockey camp, which brings together the best young male Aboriginal hockey players for an NHL-like training camp. He is one of 28 youths between the age of 16 and 18 who were given the opportunity. The camp will take him to Ottawa July 3 to 20 to train with former NHL’er and professional coach John Chabot.
