Open camp begins next week

by Glen Gibbs | Peak Sports
Published: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:04 PM CDT

Last year the Powell River Regals set some long-term goals and one of them was to focus on the talent pool available to the team right here in Powell River.

With that in mind, a young Regals team almost pulled off an upset when it went to Terrace last March and lost just one game, the final to Williams Lake Stampeders, 5-4 in overtime.

Although the end result left a bitter taste in the mouths of the young hockey players, Regal veteran Scott Mastrodonato said, “It was a good lesson, whether it was a life lesson or a hockey lesson, that you learn from your mistakes.

“It was heartbreaking to lose the way we did,” he said, “but in some small way it was a good thing because we didn’t [win] so we still have something to shoot for.”

Experienced coaches and players are wary of the pitfalls when things come too easy and Mastrodonato warned “that if they had won in their first year then everyone would have thought we’re good enough and the truth is, we’re not.”

Happily the group from last year is largely intact and with one year under its belt, the team will benefit greatly from that experience.

“I can totally see a difference in this group we have,” said Mastrodonato. “I like the local group and it’s night and day, the difference between where we were at the middle point of last year and where we are now.”

Regals main focus is to take the Coy Cup away from the Stampeders and the club is pleased to announce that Powell River fans might get a chance to see that happen. The Regals have thrown its name in the hat to host the Coy Cup and hopefully BC Amateur Hockey Association will announce the award on or before the deadline of November 1.

Regals’ preparation for the 2009-2010 season will begin with an open camp at 9:30 pm on Tuesday, October 6, and at 8:15 pm on Thursday, October 8. There will be two more sessions the following week at 9:30 pm on Tuesday, October 13, and at 8:15 pm on Thursday, October 15.

These practices are open to anyone who wants to try out but only 25 or so will make the cut. “We haven’t hosted tryouts for years,” said Mastrodonato, “but the magic number is 20 or 22 guys out skating because you can have a good practice with that many.”

The team will once again play an exhibition schedule throughout the year and in that schedule there will be one game in particular that is bound to attract a lot of attention. Vancouver Canuck Alumni will play against the Regal alumni in an exhibition game at the Powell River Recreation Complex on Saturday, January 30.

“There will be more news on the event,” said Mastrodonato, “but we are going to do this one up right and it should be quite a night.”

Vancouver Canucks Alumni (also known as BC Hockey Benevolent Association, a registered non-profit society) was originally formed in 1952 by names such as Babe Pratt and Cyclone Taylor and includes any National Hockey League card-carrying players who reside in BC. The society was initially formed to help a local amateur player whose wife had become seriously ill.

Updates on the lineup and announcements on other events surrounding the game will be released as they are finalized.

im very excited to hear the news out of powell river. the regal team that came to terrace was a true, solid double a team. it was a pleasure to play against them and we only lost to them by a goal. i know the guys on the demons love the competition and the quality of play against a team like the regals, and another crack would have been nice. with the stamps, demons, regals and possible a surprise or two, it will definatly be a good competitve season.
looking forward to the challenge

demons rule

I knew that Powell River planned to file an application to get the Coy Cup up the faraway northwest...but I understand there will be some competition in the faraway north east...Dawson Creek, which also appears to want to host the event. Watch this one unfold...both these teams could be serious, serious contenders...

No matter what, anyone planning to have a winning record in the CIHL -- can plan a long, long trip. Our bantams won the provincials in Powell River in the early 90s, I think it was - I remember it as a place that's hard to get to, from Kitimat. Ferry from Rupert to Port Hardy, drive, then ferry from Comox to Powell River. First ferry trip is about 19 hours...

Dawson Creek is another place where we've been involved in provincials at the minor level...it's simply just a long, long way away from CIHL territory, with perhaps the exception on Vanderhoof...

Think charter plane, which we did in Port Hardy!

Not that any of that will likely have any effect on the decision or the tournament intensity!

i'm sure PR will end up getting it, this is a community that has hosted the allan cup before a few years ago so they know how to obviously put an event on. also kitimat and PR tied 4-4 in the coy last year

Ya they coudnt put on a good coy they have only holded the following events in there unreal arena. Buck cherry , clint black , emerson drive nitty gritty dirt band , usa vs canadian ladies game , team canada ladies try outs for a month , Fsj vs stoney plain 2 games triple AAA hockey ,Burnaby express and prince george spruce kings along with the grande prarie storm pre season tournie last year , jann arden finger eleven randy travis beach boys, bacman cummings , and much , much more . Tonight lonestar is playing ,, future, mathew good brooks and dunn . But ya the coy wouldnt be great in dawson, WRONG. And as far as there team goes it looks good and thats with out any of FSJ guys , the two teams are affliated this season and fsj is sending Dawson players, But again it would only be okay . NOT . Go to the city of Dawson creek and on the right hand side click encana center look for your self , this does not include there 2 other rinks , the memorial still as good as any rink around since the renos. Dawson would be a great city for the coy dont fool your selves.

settle down there buddy. Don't know where your rage is coming from. I think they said that Dawson Creek like Powell River is a long trip for any CIHL teams. No biggie. I'm sure Dawson would do a great job. If anything thier rink is to good for a coy cup, would probably be two thirds empty.

If I'm choosing I would give the Cup to PR based on the fact that they put a team on the ice last year, played thier games and made the trip to Terrace for the Coy. Let Dawson pay thier dues for a year or two and then it's thier turn.

Go Stamps Go!

Just responding to the last post that just because powels hosted a allan cup, that Dwason couldnt do a great job. No rage just facts. And i agree powel should be given a better look as they did play last year and travel and they have a great history ,but so does dawson, this is there 60 year annivesary, who every gets it iam sure it will be first rate.

Just saw on the Allan cup site, powel river is listed as Triple AAA are they haveing 2 teams . If they do cant see them having much luck at either level , to play triple AAA costs big dollars , so not much left to host a coy? Time will tell .

They have avery good double A team. As good as any in the CIHL. A year under thier belt should make them stronger. The Allan Cup site is often badly outdated. I'm guessing they are going AA.