North Vancouver's Jansen Harkins put up some big numbers as Team Pacific earned silver at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge held Dec. 29-Jan. 4 in Cape Breton, N.S. The West Coasters dropped their first game 4-3 to Team Quebec but then ripped off wins over Team West, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Russia to earn a berth into the championship final against the United States. The winning streak stopped there, however, as Team U.S.A. cruised to a 4-0 win in the final played at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S. The U.S. team outshot Pacific 52-12 in the final, romping to victory to earn their fourth gold medal in the tournament's history. Team Pacific has earned silver six times, a tournament record.
Harkins, a first-year member of the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougars, led Team Pacific with five assists in the team's six games, adding one goal to finish tied for second on the team with six points. This was the final tournament to feature Canadian regional teams as next year Canada will be represented by three national teams.
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North Vancouver's A.J. Blackwell helped lead the B.C. provincial under-18 football team to a 45-7 win over Team Europe at the 2014 FBU International Showcase held last weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Carson Graham Grade 12 student scored two touchdowns as Team B.C. put up 45 unanswered points after giving up the first score of the game. Blackwell took over lead rusher duties after starter Jamel Lyles from Surrey left the game with an injury.
"A.J. Blackwell from Carson Graham ran very well for us," said head coach Tom Kudaba in a Football B.C. release. "He had to fill in for Jamel Lyles who has a suspected broken collarbone."
The game against Europe was the provincial team's only full contest of the tournament. B.C. was scheduled to play Texas East but the game was turned into a controlled scrimmage. Handsworth quarterback Michael Lemoine was also on the B.C. roster for the tournament.
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Several members of Capilano Rugby Club's youth program will represent the B.C. Elite Youth Sevens Program at the U.S.A. Sevens High School Invitational scheduled for Jan. 23-25 in Las Vegas.
Sutherland secondary's Cole Keffer, one of 10 returning players who competed in last year's event, will suit up for the provincial under-18 team. At the under-17 level West Vancouver secondary's Niko Blomberg and Liam Mahon, Collingwood's Elias Ergas and Mulgrave's Ryan Gray will all make the trip.
The event will be the first major tournament of 2014 and will be geared towards identifying and developing players to represent Canada at future World Cup tournaments and Olympic Games.
