麻豆社区

Alex Hanson added another title to his hockey resum茅 last week.

The 18-year-old left-winger from Whitehorse helped the 100 Mile House Wranglers win the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) title March 31.

The Wranglers downed the defending champion Kimberley Dynamiters in five games to emerge as the top club in the 20-team Junior B league, based out of southern British Columbia and Washington.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a year of ups and downs, but it sure turned out really well,鈥濃�圚anson said yesterday. 鈥淚鈥檓 really appreciative of this opportunity.

鈥淲e had a good year with a good group of guys. We play a physical, hard-working game and in the playoffs, that鈥檚 really what it鈥檚 all about.鈥�

Hanson suited up on a line with Justin Bond and Nick McCabe, first and fourth in team playoff scoring, respectively.

After scoring six goals alongside 12 assists as a rookie this season, Hanson contributed three goals and six assists in the playoffs 鈥� before a concussion relegated him to the sidelines in Game 3 of the league final.

Hanson told the Star he was hit from behind and blacked out briefly as a result.

The grinding winger is recovering and hopes to join his teammates for a run at the provincial title this week.

The Wranglers will open play at the Cyclone Taylor Cup tomorrow night against the host Victoria Cougars.

Also competing for the provincial title are the Pacific Junior Hockey League鈥檚 Mission City Outlaws, the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League鈥檚 Campbell River Storm and the Pacific-league Cougars.

The tournament is a single round-robin with the top two teams meeting in the championship game Sunday.

The winner moves on to the Western Canadian Jr. B championship Keystone Cup.

Hopes are high for the Wranglers, who hit the road to Victoria yesterday.

鈥淭ypically the KIJHL champs have a real good chance at winning (the Cyclone Taylor Cup),鈥濃�圚anson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 known as the toughest league to win in B.C. There are four seven-game series and a lot more teams to beat out.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long playoff, but if we play our game, we should have a chance. We need to stick to our game plan and win every shift. We鈥檝e got to be ready to go. ... You don鈥檛 have a lot of time because it鈥檚 a single round-robin.鈥�

Hanson is the second straight Yukoner to feature on a KIJHL-winning team.

Last year, Dawson City blue-liner Charles Dagostin won the KIJHL title with the Dynamiters, who went on to finish second to the Campbell River Storm in the Cyclone Taylor Cup.

The Wranglers finished the regular season with a 33-12-3-4 record, tops in the Doug Birks division.

They went on to sweep the Revelstoke Grizzlies in four straight, before downing the Chase Heat in a tough six-game series.

Hanson and company then ousted the Summerland Steam 鈥� featuring the red-hot Yukon Line 鈥� in five games to earn a date with the Dynamiters in the league final.

Hanson said two of his goals came against the Steam, and his family was in the stands to watch the Wranglers close out the series.

Seven Yukoners played in the league this season.

Wranglers coach Dale Hladun said Hanson brings a unique element to his club鈥檚 forward ranks, noting he is a strong forechecker and all-around tough opponent to play against.

His gritty play didn鈥檛 go unnoticed. Hanson won the Wranglers鈥� fan favourite award 鈥� selected by the fans for his efforts on and off the ice.

鈥淚 believe Alex will be a success, not just in hockey, but in his life,鈥濃�圚ladun said. 鈥淗e is a quality young man and we鈥檙e lucky to have him on our roster.鈥�

Hladun first saw Hanson play during a summer hockey camp in the Yukon capital, co-hosted by Jr. A coach Joe Martin.

He said he was impressed with Hanson鈥檚 compete level in drills and scrimmages, as well as the youngster鈥檚 demeanour when working with minor hockey players.

鈥淗e is an excellent team player and acts as an excellent role model in 100 Mile House,鈥� the coach said.

鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be happier as a community and an organization to have a quality young man like Alex on our roster.鈥�

Last season, Hanson made a name for himself by helping the Prince George Cariboo Cougars win the Mac鈥檚 AAA Midget Tournament in鈥圕algary 鈥� an event featuring teams from across the globe.