When Kelowna midget hockey player Parker Bowles entered the Tri-City Americans dressing room following his first ever Western Hockey League game this week, he wasn’t quite prepared for what came next.
This was Tuesday night, and Bowles, 16, had just skated with the Americans as an affiliate player in a 7-2 win over Everertt.
And he didn’t just play. He skated with the Americans’ top line, he hit a post, he was pulled down on a breakaway that resulted in a penalty and did just about everything except hit the scoresheet.
Then came the three star selections.
“It was crazy,” said Bowles the day after the game. “I just came back in the dressing room and someone called out the stars and they called me. I was asking questions. I didn’t know what to do. I skated across the ice for a picture. The fans were screaming. It was pretty cool.”
Pretty cool indeed, much like most of this season for Bowles, the Okanagan Rockets leading scorer and the second overall scorer in the B.C. Major Midget League. Not bad for a guy who didn’t arrive in Kelowna until pretty close to the start of the BCMML season when his family moved to the city from Calgary.
In fact with four games remaining in the BCMML season, Bowles is set to take over the Okanagan Rockets single-season record for both goals and points. His 33 goals are tied with James Dobrowolski’s 33 while he is one point behind Dobrowolski’s point total of 68 points, both set during the 2006-07 BCMML season.
“I guess that’s pretty crazy,” said Bowles, who was unaware of the impending records. “I haven’t thought about that. I could not do it without my linemates Harlan Orr and Brett Mennear. They have really helped me this year and we’re really clicking and getting some points.”
After playing last year in Alberta’s minor midget league as a 15-year-old, Bowles went undrafted in the WHL bantam draft. Tri-City though listed the 5-foot-10 centre this year. Americans general manager Bob Tory said Tuesday’s WHL debut by Bowles should be a sign of things to come for the offensive dynamo.
“It was an exciting game and the way it progressed he got more and more ice time,” said Tory. “He’s a tremendously talented player and has a very good future in our league. He’s going to be a dynamic offensive player. I’m confident with his character he will train hard in the off-season to get stronger.”
As for the rest of the season Bowles is now focussed on the upcoming BCMML playoffs as the Okanagan Rockets have clinched a playoff spot and are looking to make some noise this year.
Bowles says the team is playing its best hockey at the right time.
“The team has really been coming together,” he said. “We had a great month of January. It’s perfect timing for us going into playoffs. I think we can light it up and go far. I think we have a really good chance.”
The Rockets will host the Vancouver Giants this weekend in regular season BCMML games at the Capital News Centre in Kelowna, 3 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
