The Beaver Valley Nitehawks' success in its exhibition season bodes well for the 2024-25 KIJHL campaign.
The Nitehawks cruised through the pre-season with a 6-0 record that included a 6-2 victory over the Spokane Braves in its final pre-season game on Saturday.
A hat trick from Boris Hristov, and goals from Rhett Newton, Connor Drake, and Hunter Hansen paved the way to a decisive victory.
B.V. outshot the Braves 38-32 with veteran goalie Connor Stojan stopping 22 of 23 shots, and Fruitvale product Lincoln Kelly making nine saves in the final 11 minutes. Bronson Pankey stopped 32 shots in the Spokane net.
Beaver Valley head coach Terry Jones liked the pace in the exhibition season, and has high expectations for the 2024-25 campaign.
“Our nucleus of players has been together for a few years,” Jones said in the KIJHL Quick Shift report. “I love how we came to camp in condition and shape and the leadership has been awesome from Connor Stojan, Bobby Hristov, Joel Smyth and Beau Manegre.”
The Nitehawks cruised to two wins over Creston to open the pre-season, then followed that up with 7-5 and 4-2 victories over the Castlegar Rebels, before beating the Braves 4-1 at home on Friday, and 6-2 on Saturday in Spokane.
“The guys have all done a great job and I’m really, really excited about some of our emerging guys like Liam Ray, Hunter Hansen, Owen Dickson and Roan Crowe - these are guys who have really worked hard in the off-season and had a good training camp.
“It’s a pretty exciting time.”
B.V. looks strong up front with veteran Hristov leading the way with five goals and nine points, followed by Grande Prairie product Brock Robertson, 5-3-8, and Trail native Owen Dickson with four goals and five points in six games.
The Nitehawks will also see the return of Rossland product and last year's leading scorer, Ollie Clement, who tallied 42 points in 45 games.
“Ollie Clement is an engine for us,” said Jones. “He's full of energy, life and spirit and plays the game hard and is super talented. He is a great skater that is showing to be a top scorer in our league, so we look for Ollie to contribute in all those ways.”
B.V. veteran William Ray will anchor the Hawks' defence with several rookies vying for a spot on the roster including local talent Mason Dixon and Sam Chartres.
The Nitehawks greatest strength will undoubtedly be between the pipes with the return of veteran goalies Stojan and Trail native Landan Uzeloc. The tandem combined for a .920 save percentage and a 2.43 goals against average with five shutouts last season.
“Goalies Connor Stojan and Landan Uzeloc both have had terrific camps and are really playing and prepared well. It's nice to see Landan has really emerged so we look forward to seeing him and Connor to be a top-10 in the league.”
The Nitehawks did not play their Neil Murdoch Division rivals Grand Forks Border Bruins or Nelson Leafs in the warm up games. The Border Bruins were also impressive finishing with a 5-and-0 record, including a 6-0 shutout victory over Castlegar on Saturday (Sept. 14), and an 8-0 drubbing of the Leafs to open the pre-season on Sept. 4.
The season will also see its share of changes in the KIJHL, particularly in the Okanagan Conference where new teams include the Merritt Centennials in the Bill Ohlhausen Division, and the Williams Lake Mustangs and Quesnel River Rush in the Doug Birks Division.
After falling in the Kootenay Conference final last season, Nitehawks coach Jones expects another competitive season, but is looking for a better result.
“I'd like to win six more games,” Jones said. “We felt like getting to the league final would have been a topper on a great season. To come up short, that's a real sticking point with our returning players and they’re eager to try and get to that next step and challenge for the league title.”
Beaver Valley will travel to Spokane to face the Braves at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 to open the season.
They will play in Creston against the Thunder Cats on Saturday, and in Grand Forks on Friday, Sept. 27.
Their first home game goes at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 versus the Kelowna Chiefs at the B.V. Arena.
