A Chilliwackian helped the Revelstoke Grizzlies win a provincial junior B championship last weekend.
Josh Irvine played forward for the Grizzlies, who faced off against the Victoria Cougars, North Van Wolf Pack and host Campbell River Storm at the Cyclone Taylor Cup.
The tournament brought together the champs from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (Revelstoke), Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (Victoria) and Pacific Junior Hockey League (North Van).
Games were played at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River.
Revelstoke started with a 4-1 loss to Victoria last Thursday and didn’t lose again. They beat North Van 5-1 and Campbell River 3-2, setting up a finals rematch with the Cougars.
Irvine collected an assist on one of the Grizzly goals in a 5-1 rout that gave Revelstoke its second straight title.
A second Chilliwackian played a huge role in Revelstoke’s success this season, but wasn’t able to dress for the Cyclone Taylor Cup.
Defenceman Ethan Rideout broke his arm in the third period of the KIJHL championship-clinching win over the Kimberley Dynamiters.
The 18 year old had to watch from the sidelines, and Revelstoke missed his steady two-way play, but his sacrifice didn’t go unnoticed.
“You literally sacrificed your body for the team and I can’t ask more from a defenseman,” his coach, Ryan Parent, told him.
Rideout and Irvine are both Chilliwack Minor Hockey grads, and a third CMHA alum was also at the tournament as Connor McCracken refereed several games including the final.
All three were captains of their CMHA midget teams before moving on to their current assignments.
