It has been a whirlwind spring in the crease for Victoria Cougars goaltender Michael Herringer.
He made his Western Hockey League debut with a call-up to the Victoria Royals and today his Victoria Cougars open the Cyclone Taylor Cup sa国际传媒 Junior B championship tournament in his hometown.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a pretty exciting time,鈥� said the 17-year-old Comox Valley native and Royals-listed player, who has watched and learned this season from more experienced Cougars goalie, 20-year-old Evan Roch.
Herringer, Roch and their Vancouver Island Junior League-champion Cougars begin the 2013 Cyclone Taylor Cup 鈥� named after the Stanley Cup-winning sa国际传媒 hockey legend 鈥� today at 3:30 p.m. against the Pacific Junior League-champion Richmond Sockeyes at the Comox Valley Sports Centre.
The host and Island runner-up Comox Valley Glacier Kings take on the Kootenay International Junior League representatives, Castlegar Rebels, at 7:30.
The Friday games have the Cougars playing the Rebels at 3:30 p.m. and Glacier Kings meeting the Sockeyes at 7:30 p.m. The Saturday games feature Castlegar against Richmond at 3:30 p.m. and the all-Island Cougars-Glacier Kings matchup at 7:30 p.m.
The bronze-medal game is Sunday at 10:30 a.m., followed by the gold-medal game at 2:30 p.m.
The sa国际传媒 champion advances to the Keystone Cup Western Canadian championship April 17-21 in St. Malo, Man.
鈥淧laying a WHL game was amazing and a dream come true,鈥� said Herringer, who made 36 saves as the starter in a 4-3 Royals overtime victory in the regular-season closing game March 16 in Everett against the Silvertips.
His first WHL action, however, came on Feb. 19 when Herringer mopped up the final 13:22 of a 5-2 Royals loss in Edmonton by allowing no goals.
鈥淭he size and creativity of the WHL players was so much more [than in Junior B]. Players from here [Junior B] get called up to Junior A. But top players from the WHL get called up to the NHL. Yet it鈥檚 just hockey. It [call-up] gave me confidence to go back next season to Royals camp.鈥�
Whether a jump to the WHL is in the cards for Herringer next season remains problematic as the Royals return both Patrik Polivka and Coleman Vollrath.
鈥淚 know they [Royals] have two goalies with [WHL] experience. I will go in there to show what I can do,鈥� said Herringer, of his goal for September.
First, however, comes the Cougars in the Cyclone Taylor Cup.
Returning to the Comox Valley for Cup play is especially sweet.
鈥淚鈥檝e had so many early-morning practices in that rink,鈥� said Herringer.
The Cougars are looking to avenge last year鈥檚 3-2 Cyclone Taylor Cup championship game loss in double overtime to the Abbotsford Pilots, who went on to win the Keystone Cup Western Canadian title.
鈥淲e came so close last year. Our goal is to win the Cyclone Taylor this year and get to the Western Canadians,鈥� said Cougars forward Sam Rice. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e focusing right now on the first game against Richmond and nothing past that.鈥�
As a 20-year-old, Rice realizes this is his final chance at a title in junior hockey. 鈥淚 want to relish the moment and go out with a bang,鈥� said the Racquet Club graduate.
The last Island team to win the Cyclone Taylor Cup was the Peninsula Panthers in 2011. The Cougars have won it once previously in 2007.
