The Official Magazine of the British Columbia Hockey League
close calls
lege and the Chair of the league. “There wasn’t an opportunity for student-athletes to play competitive hockey in B.C. other than at a recreational level. “We’ve been able to give students an
option besides having to go to the United States or elsewhere in Canada in order to continue playing at a high level.” While the league features institutions
that offer vastly different educational cur- riculums, Verigin says that the league’s teams are united in their scholastic goals. “From the outset, we’ve aimed for a fair
balance between academics and athlet- ics so that the students who participate in our league are successful at both.” Although the BCIHL is still in its infancy,
a glance to their neighbours across the Rocky Mountains shows what the league is striving to become. The Alberta Colleges Athletic Confer-
ence was founded in 1968 and has built a strong tradition of high-calibre hockey with teams that often face off against CIS and NCAA competition. “It’s a very good league for both player
and coaching development,” says Allan Ferchuk, the league’s interim Executive Di- rector. “Our league has attracted players who have backgrounds from Midget AAA right up to minor pro, so the quality and calibre of play is excellent.” The ACAC houses eight teams: Mount
Royal University, the Southern Alberta In- stitute of Technology (SAIT), Concordia
“On our team alone, we have five guys that played in the BCHL last year. You recognize lots of names of B.C. guys and lots of junior players from Western Canada.”
- Brennan Strang
University College, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Augustana College, Portage College, Grant MacE- wen College and Briercrest College. The Southern Alberta Institute of Tech-
nology has been a league powerhouse in recent seasons and has seen a surge of
ex-BCHL talent on its roster. “On our team alone, we have five guys
that played in the BCHL last year,” says for- mer Surrey Eagles and Powell River Kings forward Brennan Strang. “You recognize lots of names of B.C. guys and a lot of junior players from Western Canada.” Strang, who grew up in Saskatche-
wan, says he learned about the program at SAIT from a coach and has been im- pressed with the fit so far. He’s joined on the Trojans by a fa-
miliar group that includes former Eagles teammate Tommy Tartaglione, Salmon Arm defenceman Ashford McMaster and Westside Warriors grads Brad Plumton, Brady Mason and Garret Watson. “You see a lot of players from differ-
ent levels, but the overall calibre is very good,” he says of the competition through- out the league. So while neither league bills itself as a
rival to the NCAA, both provide a number of excellent academic options combined with high-calibre competitive hockey. And all without the frequent flyer miles.
2010 EDUCATION ISSUE | 27
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