That's All Folks

(Photo by Randy Emery)

The season is over for the Trail Smoke Eaters. Things kind of went out with a whimper in game 3 after all the fireworks of game 2. Vernon wrapped things up with a fairly dominating 5-0 victory. Trail was in it for the first period, but the Vipers came away with the only marker. In the second period Trail's only goal was called back due to a correct offside call and the Smokies lost Captain Kevin Limbert to a game misconduct on a hit from behind against Kellen Jones. That pretty much sucked all the remaining wind out of a battered Trail team.

Those last two games don't tell the story of how close the two teams were this year. In the regular season 5 of 6 games were decided by a single goal. Three of those games in overtime. Game 1 was an absolute thriller that Trail almost won. However, the Smokies just didn't have the manpower to respond to the emotional and physical toll of game 2. The loss of Stefan Decosse and suspension of Kevin Koopman, added to the loss of Ryan Bulach and Cam Brodie, it was just too big a hill for the boys to climb. They sure worked their butts off in the last month of the season. They came together as a hockey club. However, they were down key guys from a team that had trouble scoring goals at 100%. Against a nearly 100% Vipers club that was a tall task.

Those are a lot of excuses for me to be giving them, but they're also the facts. This team dealt with more adversity this year than some teams do in two or three seasons. That adversity builds character, and boy these guys have that in spades. They came together as a team as they went through that awful January. They grew, matured and turned into a true team. I have met a lot of people in hockey, but I haven't met many guys with more character than I did on this Smoke Eaters team from the president, the executive, the coaches, the staff, the fans on down. It's been an honour to work with everyone on this team this year. If character, class and integrity determined who won hockey games these guys would be champs for sure.

However, goal scoring wins hockey games... and this team just didn't have enough. They had guys who would do everything at both ends of the ice. But they didn't have enough guys who could snipe a key goal at a key time. I know from talking to the staff that goal scoring and some size up front are going to be their priorities in the off season. That aside, Coach Ingram told me character is very important to him. He loves the character guys he had here this year, and while obviously they want a better team next year, he wants any player that wears the Orange and Black to be a guy that will cherish the honour instead of someone who sees it as just a stop on the road to somewhere else.

There are seven guys at least on this team who cherished that honour and won't be back. Kevin Limbert, Casey Shade, Stefan Decosse, August Aiken, Scott Warner, Kevin Koopman and Grant Rollheiser are all either too old to come back or heading off to scholarships next season. I got a chance to get to know every one of those guys at some level and I wish them nothing but the best in the future. I bet Limbert and Koopman will have some nice battles when Yale takes on Brown next season. Rollheiser is going to win that starting job at Boston. Warner will proudly serve his country on the blue line at Westpoint. Shade, Aiken and Decosse are going to represent anywhere they go with absolute pride and respect. I'll miss watching them all play.

Thanks to all those associated with the team for making this an absolute joy and pleasure for me this year. Whether it's the parents I talked to online and at games, the fans who called our show or chatted with me at the rink, the executive and volunteers who work countless hours for no pay to make this team work, the coaches who always have time for the annoying radio announcer or the players who always treated me with respect... except that on time Limbert stole my food at Rave's!

Hockey is a sport known for the class and respect of its players. It may be more violent than any other sport in North America, but the guys respect the chance they have to play this great game at a level most of us only wish we got to play. This year's Smokies didn't do what they wanted to do on the ice, but they can hold their heads high. They're all quality people who will go on to do good things in life one way or another.

And for those who move on after this season, that banner in the dressing room tells the story.

You're a Smoke Eater for life.

NOTES

...What a game tonight in Prince George. Salmon Arm was down 6-1 midway through the second period to the point where the announcers were suggesting it was time to get those buses ready for a trip to game 5. Not so fast! The Silverbacks answered back to make it 6-4 after two periods. Gillis was pulled after the 6th goal, but Coach Ferster put him back into the game to start the third period in what I think was a great move to show your goaltender you have faith in him. He did the job and the 'Backs came back to win 7-6 in overtime. A heart breaker for the Spruce Kings and a massive, massive lift for Salmon Arm's momentum. If you don't get some momentum from a win like that you're made of stone.

...Powell River surprised me by knocking off Surrey. I thought for sure that tough Eagles team was built for playoff success. Tartaglione looked like a game stealing goaltender too. The Kings must have just stepped their game up. Now they're going to take that underdog mentality into Nanaimo. Clippers better take them seriously.

...Burnaby and Victoria go back to Burnaby for Game 5. You would have to think that gives the Express the advantage as Victoria couldn't take advantage of their chance to win the series at home.

...Vernon will now play Penticton while Westside takes on Salmon Arm. Those four teams have clearly been the class of the Interior talent wise this year so it's not really any surprise. That being said, watch out for the other four teams next season. They may not be rich, big market squads. However, they are all developing strong talent from within their organization. Those top four will have to fight hard to hold on to those spots next year. I have to say I expect Penticton to walk away with the BCHL title this year, but these teams all have a lot of talent. Should be fun to watch.

...Beaver Valley and Nelson are putting on a hell of a show in the KIJHL Neil Murdoch West Division finals. Nelson won tonight in overtime to make the series 2-1 for the Nitehawks. The road team has won every game so far. BV has been to overtime in 4 of their 6 playoff games. That shows you just how tight things are between Nelson, Beaver Valley and the now eliminated Castlegar Rebels. Any Trail fans looking for a hockey fix would do well to take in Game 4 at the Beaver Valley Arena in Fruitvale tomorrow night.

...So who do you guys think did the best job for us on colour this year? We had the BCHL encyclopedia Randy Emery, the lively Scottie McKinnon and a talented selection of Smokies players. I wish I could have someone up with me every game (I mean lets be honest don't you all get sick of my voice after a while?) and those guys sure made the job easier when they were with me.

...This was my first season as a full time broadcaster for one particular team. If any of you listeners have any thoughts on what you liked and didn't like about how we covered the Smoke Eaters feel free to send me an e-mail at shawnsamsmullin@hotmail.com or mullin@mountainfm.net. We do these broadcasts for the fans and so any feedback will be taken seriously. Don't forget that while the season may be over our coverage of the Smoke Eaters off season continues on Mountain FM. We have sports updates in our news casts from 6am to 6pm daily. From 6pm to Midnight I'll still be hosting our sports/rock radio show "Overtime" and we'll be taking a look back on the season with the Smoke Eaters. We're also going to break the news on any new recruits. If you ever have any thoughts on the team or any other sports feel free to call in at 1-877-560-1010. If you disagree with me... even better!