Kootenay Hockey Academy sees mixed results at weekend showcase

Kootenay Hockey Academy held home games this past weekend with 17U and 18U teams at Western Financial Place. The teams plays in the Junior Prospects Hockey League (JPHL), an academy-based, independent elite youth and student-athlete hockey league operating in Canada.

17U AAA: Goaltending, Bednár lifts Kootenay to 5-4 win over Edmonton

Jakub Bednár scored twice in the first period, and Taylor Ashmore stopped 37 shots Saturday (Nov. 7) as Kootenay beat Edmonton 5-4, a day after a 7-2 loss to the same team.

Bednár helped build a 3-1 lead before Edmonton tied it. Riley Stevens and Lane Waugh, with the winner, put Kootenay back up by two in the second period. Jergus Konrad added three assists as Kootenay was outshot 41-30.

On Sunday (Nov. 8), Ethan Pinch turned aside 33 of 34 shots, including all four Calgary attempts in overtime, but Kootenay lost in a shootout. Zachary Auger tied the game 1-1 with a second-period power-play goal, earning Kootenay a point.

Bednár led the team with five points (three goals, two assists) on the weekend, and Konrad had four assists. Pinch’s .923 save percentage ranks seventh in the league. At 1-1-1 on the weekend, Kootenay sits sixth in the Prairies with 15 points.

Weekend Results for 17U:

Friday Nov. 6: HC Edmonton defeated Kootenay Hockey Academy 7-2

Saturday Nov. 7: Kootenay Hockey Academy defeated HC Edmonton 5-4

Sunday Nov. 8: Calgary Rockies defeated Kootenay Hockey Academy 2-1 in overtime/shootout

18U AAA: Vershetskyi Powers Kootenay

Maksym Vershetskyi scored in every game and finished the weekend with six points (four goals, two assists), second only to Vaneev. He had a goal and two assists Friday against Edmonton, including a setup on Karter Russell’s game-winner late in the second period. He put Kootenay up 2-1 on Calgary on Saturday, then scored twice Sunday against Lethbridge, once on the power play.

Mateo Sinclair was the story in Friday’s 3-2 win over Edmonton, stopping 37 of 39 shots as Edmonton outshot Kootenay 39-17, including 13-1 in the third period. Knox Turner added four points (two goals, two assists) on the weekend, and Wyatt Borys scored twice.

Kootenay went 1-0-1-1 and earned points in all three games, moving to 15 points and fourth in the Prairies.

Weekend Results for 18U:

Friday Nov. 6: Kootenay Hockey Academy defeated HC Edmonton 3-2

Saturday Nov. 7: Calgary Rockies defeated Kootenay Hockey Academy 4-3 in overtime/shootout

Sunday Nov. 8: Lethbridge United defeated Kootenay Hockey Academy 5-4 in overtime

Both Kootenay Hockey Academy squads finished the weekend with 15 points, the 18U team in fourth and the 17U team in sixth in the Prairies.

To learn more about the Kootenay Hockey Academy visit kootenayha.ca/