Cariboo Cougar teammates, Eli Jarvis, Ryan Gagnon and Colby Braaten of Quesnel made important contributions at the Mac’s triple A midget hockey tournament in Calgary.
The tournament featured 25 teams, including teams from Russia and from across Canada.
Jarvis, 16, who leads the Cougars with 14 goals and 21 assists in 24 games, collected one goal and two assists in four games for the Cougars who finished the tournament with two wins and two losses.
Although he would have liked to make a bigger contribution offensively, Beesley indicated Jarvis played an important role on and off the ice.
“His experience helped, he led by example and that helped settle down the younger guys,” Beesley said.
“He did a great job in that area.”
Gagnon, 15, the youngest of the Quesnel trio, by all accounts had a great tournament.
He found the back of the net twice and added three helpers in four games.
“He was phenomenal, we’re very pleased with his performance,” Beesley said.
“As a young kid, that he produced at that level is a pat on the back.”
In 24 games with the Cougars, Gagnon has one goal and 12 assists.
Colby Braaten, a defenceman from Quesnel, also suited up for the Cougars but did not hit the scoresheet.
Nonetheless, Beesley pointed to Braaten’s strong physical play as key to the Cougar’s game plan at the tournament.
“The elite teams that were there brought their heavy hitters and Colby gave us that physical presence down low,” Beesley explained.
“He’s one of our tougher defencemen.”
The performance of the trio of Quesnel players, Beesley said, was a testament to the quality of coaching and the support from volunteers and staff of the Quesnel and District Minor Hockey Association.
“Whatever it is they do, they’re doing it right, they’re producing good players,” he said.
With a record of 2-2 in round-robin action, the Cougars missed the playoffs.
Although disappointed they missed the playoffs, Beesley said there were some very positive results at the tournament, most notably that the team played their most consistent hockey for four games.
“Playing for 60 full minutes is easier said than done,” Beesley said.
Also on Beesley’s list of positive outcomes was the tenure of the Cougar players away from the ice.
“Everywhere we went we received compliments on the behaviour of our players off the ice,” he said.
Gagnon and Jarvis are both selected to play in the BCMMHL all-star game in Coquitlam this Friday.
