That Kelsey Serwa was still able to compete against the world’s best in 2014 was, in itself, a story of will and perseverance.
But the Kelowna ski cross racer wasn’t content to just to show up at the starting line.
Serwa made an unlikely comeback from serious knee injuries two years running to step on to the podium on the ultimate athletic stage.
She charged her way a silver-medal performance at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, finishing second only to Canadian teammate and friend, Marielle Thompson.
“I’m super happy to be walking away with a silver medal and even happier to be sharing it with my teammate Marielle,” Serwa said. “…it was the most amazing feeling coming over the finish line 1-and-2, knowing that we were bringing gold home to Canada and one more (medal). I skied as fast I could, she skied as fast as she could, and it turned out pretty well.”
Serwa’s journey leading up to the Sochi Olympics was plagued by misfortune and injury.
After seriously hurting her back, Serwa twice damaged the same knee, in 2012 and again in 2013.
She could have just as easily walked away from the sport, but Serwa’s lifelong dream was just too powerful to leave behind.
“Last year I actually thought about stepping away after I blew my knee again,” she said. “Once that came into my mind, I got really sad and realized I wasn’t ready for retirement yet and because I still had some energy left in the bank.”
If Serwa was thrilled by what happened in Sochi, she would be further elated and overwhelmed by the reception waiting for her back in Kelowna.
Upon her return, hundreds of fans, along with friends and family showed up at the Kelowna International Airport for a hero’s welcome.
“This is above and beyond what I ever expected,” said Serwa, who shed a few tears in response to the greeting. “I think it just goes to show how strong a community Kelowna is. I didn’t get here on my own, it was a huge group effort, and just the love and support I felt in Russia from Kelowna…is unspeakable.”
Kelowna Rockets
The Kelowna Rockets didn’t celebrate a championship, but still made 2014 one of the most eventful and memorable years in club history.
Under the guidance of head coach Ryan Huska for the last time, the Rockets captured the Western Hockey League’s overall title, while also setting franchise records for victories (57) and points (118).
“It’s a testament to the kids, they’ve played hard all year, and our coaches have done a wonderful job with them,” said Rockets’ GM Bruce Hamilton.
Despite their regular season exploits, the Rockets were ousted from the playoffs in the WHL’s Western Conference final in five games by the Portland Winterhawks.
Still, with team success came individual success as Jordon Cooke was named the WHL’s goaltender of the year, while forward Nick Merkley earned the league’s rookie of the year honours.
Cooke later added the CHL goaltender of the year award, as the 20-year-old from Leduc, Alta. capped off a solid junior career.
“This award has everything to do with the team success we had,” Cooke said. “It’s a product of the the way the guys played in front of me, and they are a big reason I’m here today with this award.”
Huska moves on
Following the season, Ryan Huska announced he would be moving on after seven years as head coach of the Rockets.
The 38-year-old Huska took on the top bench job with the AHL’s Adirondack Flames.
“Reflecting back, we’re proud of the records we’ve had and the banners we’ve had, but I’m going to be remembering the team, and all the people that allowed us to get to that point, and allowed me the opportunity to move on,” Huska said. “That’s what’s really special about this organization.”
Taking over as the new head man was Dan Lambert, Huska’s right-hand man for the last five seasons. “(Ryan) being successful has allowed me to grow as a young coach and now to get this opportunity, I’m very grateful to the Hamilton family and that they trust in me that I can follow in Ryan’s footsteps.”
Ex-Rockets golden in Sochi
A trio of the best players to ever wear the colours of the Kelowna Rockets helped their country to golden glory in 2014.
Defencemen Shea Weber and Duncan Keith, and forward Jamie Benn all played key roles as Canada captured the gold medal in men’s hockey at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
Rockets assistant GM and head scout Lorne Frey, who saw all three players come through the WHL organization, was thrilled to see Weber, Keith and Benn wearing the gold medal.
“Everybody in our organization is pretty pleased to see what these guys have done,” Frey said. “There were a lot of people along the way at different levels who deserve credit for their success, we were just lucky and happy to be part of it. They were all good kids when they were here and they enjoyed success with us. Kudos to all three of them.”
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Weber, was a defensive stalwart along the Canadian blue line and also displayed his heavy, powerful shot as the Sicamous native scored three goals—second most on the Canadian team—during the Olympic tournament. Weber played four seasons in Kelowna, including winning the Memorial Cup with the Rockets in 2004.
Keith, a product of Penticton, who played with the Rockets in 2002-03, was another rock for Canada along the blue line at the Olympics. He was second only to his partner, Weber, in ice time for Canada at 126 minutes.
Benn, who played his way on the Canada’s roster after a solid start to the NHL season, teamed up with Ryan Getzlaf and Cory Perry to form one of Canada’s most effective forechecking lines at the tournament.
Benn, a Victoria native, scored two goals in the tournament, including the lone marker in Canada’s 1-0 semifinal win over the United States.
Benn played two seasons in Kelowna, helping the Rockets to the WHL title in 2009.
Cotter comes close
Just one more win would have made 2014 a perfect year for Jim Cotter’s Vernon/Kelowna rink.
As it was, the Okanagan foursome, skipped by Calgary’s John Morris, won the B.C. men’s curling title, before settling for second best at the Brier in Kamloops.
In February, Morris, Cotter, Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky captured the provincial championship with a 10-2 victory over Jason Montgomery in the final.
A month later, the Vernon/Kelowna rink posted a 9-2 record to finish first in the round robin at the Canadian men’s championship.
The Morris/Cotter team advanced through the playoffs all the way to the final before running out of magic, losing 10-5 to Alberta’s Kevin Koe.
Despite a disappointing end to the season, second Tyrel Griffith said it was a rewarding year with the Morris/Cotter team, which also reached the Olympic trials final in 2013.
“It’s been a pretty amazing year,” said Griffith. “We played so well and we were right where we wanted to be in those two big events. We worked really hard the last two months, but unfortunately just weren’t that sharp in the final.”
In other curling news, two-time Canadian champ Kelly Scott reconfigured her Kelowna rink as Jeanna Schraeder and Sasha Carter stepped aside for more family time.
Shannon Aleksic and Karla Thomson joined Scott and lead Sarah (Wazney) Pyke for 2014-15.
Championship season for Okanagan Rockets
A team assembled by general manager David Michaud with the sole intention of winning championships, the Okanagan Rockets didn’t disappoint in 2014.
After finishing the B.C. Major Midget League regular season with a club-record 32 victories, the Rockets went on to claim their first league title since 2006.
The Rockets displaced the defending champion Vancouver Northwest Giants 2-0 in the best-of-three BCMML final.
Head coach Mack O’Rourke pointed to both team play and commitment to the cause as the Okanagan squads main keys to success.
“The players were unbelievable in buying into our system and accepting their roles,” O’Rourke said. “Some guys obviously didn’t play as much as others, but they were all committed to what we asked of them.”
Two weeks later, the Rockets made club history by defeating the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs two games to one in the Pacific Regional final.
The series win earned Okanagan its first ever berth in the Telus Cup national midget championship.
“We know we can accomplish great things when we put our mind to it,” said GM David Michaud. “With these guys, when they get knocked down they don’t want to stay down.”
While the Rockets didn’t finish off the season with another title, they did manage to medal at the nationals in Moose Jaw.
After watching their championship aspirations disappear in a loss to Prince Albert a day earlier, the Rockets downed the Toronto Young Nationals 3-2 in overtime to earn bronze.
“It was real important for them not to lay down and they didn’t,” Michaud said. “Winning this in overtime is a great lasting memory to our season. We think we deserved to have this, and to say ‘We’re No. 3…that’s not a bad thing at all.”
The Rockets also won the Kelowna International Elite Midget Tournament in January, defeating Waterloo in the final.
On an individual basis, Rockets forward Tyson Jost won the BCMML scoring titles with a team-record 44 goals and 88 points.
