Local goaltender Corey Koop was named the Greater Vancouver Conference Canucks' most valuable player after being riddled with rubber at the opening Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association Midget Scholarship Tournament game on Sunday (Jan. 10).
Koop played well as the Canucks' last line of defence but an aggressive Greater Vancouver Conference Avalanche team managed to put five goals past him in a 5-0 victory at Brennan Park Arena. It was the only local game scheduled for the tournament.
Facing a lot of pucks isn't necessarily a bad thing. Seeing more action gives Koop more opportunities to showcase his skills, and therefore a better chance at earning the $500 Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association Special Bursary Award that is awarded to one player on each of the four teams who best displays excellence and sportsmanship during the tournament.
Koop, who started the season with the 麻豆社国产Wolf Pack but has since moved to the local House league, accepts the high shot count logically.
"From a goalie's point of view, you know, not being on one of the stronger teams definitely helps just because for a goalie to get a scholarship it's not going to help if I'm just standing there watching my team dominate," said Koop, adding that he hopes to earn a scholarship to play hockey in the United States.
Backstopped by its alternate goalie, the Canucks went on to lose the tournament's second game 3-0 on Monday (Jan. 11) against the Fraser Valley Conference Flames, making the Canucks scoreless after two games.
The other two local players on the Canucks, forwards Bryce Hurlbert and Jarrad Wilhelm, went on the try to break the goose egg when they faced the Fraser Valley Conference Oilers on Thursday night (Jan. 14) after The Chief went to press.
Wilhelm, who wore the captain's "C" on Sunday, plays at the Midget House level while Hurlbert plays for the Midget Rep squad.
Midget Rep head coach Greg Hagar said Hurlbert is the best all-around player on his Eagles team.
"He's bright in school but he also has a high hockey intelligence and his work ethic is amazing," he said. "He has explosive offence when needs be and he has an incredible sense of awareness on the ice."
The Canucks will likely play in the small final on Saturday (Jan. 16) to decide either a third or fourth place overall finish in the tournament. Bursary winners will also be chosen on Saturday.
