The Abbotsford News from Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada • 13

A13 The Abbotsford Mission News Saturday. January 26. 2008 Shedding light on young talent PIJHLs top prospects come to Abbotsford this week Former Abbotsford Pilots forward Derek Grant (see story on Page A12) is among the many players who have used the Pacific International Junior Hockey Leagues top prospects game as a springboard to bigger and better things. Last season. Grant was named the player of the game after scoring a hat trick, including the game-winner with 40 seconds left, as the East edged the West 6-5 at MSA Arena.

Grants success this year at the junior A level medalists Karl Alzner and Kyle Turns have suited up for the PI JHL showcase. Other high-profile invitees include high-scoring Chilliwack Brums forwards Mark Santorelli and Brandon Campos, and former Vancouver Giants captain and current Boston Bruin Milan Lucic. I dont think our league gets enough recognition, Goeson said. It's all about where kids come from in junior A. Weve had a lot of great prospects over the years.

is music to the ears of Pilots owner Jack Goeson, who is hosting the prospects game once again next week (Wednesday, 7 p.m., MSA Arena). The prospects game gives players a good start and a good opportunity for them to expose their skills at the junior level, Goeson said. Its good for our game and our league. Grant is just one of the luminaries to suit up for the prospects game. Recent World Junior Championship gold Abbotsfords Scott Ramsay has been a nice surprise for the Chilliwack Bruins.

The local defenceman has performed well with the big club and has coaches taking note of his strong play. Ramsay: Making the jump Local defenceman enjoys transition from Junior to Major Junior Indications of a Grow Op Power Surges Adjacent houses may experience dimming of lights or appliances slowing down for a brief period of time. anyone, and Ramsay said the pace of the game was intimidating at first. But in the last few games, things are starting to slow down and hes feeling more comfortable. Junior is about developing fundamentals.

Major junior is about refinement. Ramsay is enjoying the opportunity to focus on the little things that make such a big difference in a game. Guys stay out for two hours at practise, Ramsay noted. And I love that. Guys here have the work ethic and dedication because thats whats needed in this league.

And I think thats something Ive had to develop. I started picking up the work ethic in major midget, and now practicing isnt something I have to do. Its something I want to do. Ask the Bruins hockey staff their opinion of the rookie defenceman, and the reports are glowing. Were seeing the future anchor of our defensive core, head coach Jim Hiller raved.

He gained a lot from junior and the best is yet to come for Scott. work was focused. Ive gotten quicker but I think I can still improve in that area, Ramsay said. Im such a big guy, so Ive put a lot of work into my stride making sure I can get from point A to point quick enough to make a play. He got into some preseason action and didnt look out of place against those speedy WHL forwards, but the Bruins had a numbers crunch on the back end, and he was sent to Princeton of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

Being banished to junior hockey was disappointing at first, but Ramsay now believes it was a valuable experience. Im 16 years old, he said. Thats young for the WHL. They told me I was either going to be here or in Princeton, and I actually view it as a bonus that Im here so soon. I was sad at first, but I got tons of ice time and got to be a top dog.

Its helped my confidence so much. Making the jump from junior to major junior is a daunting task for by ERIC WELSH Black Press Scott Ramsay had a smile on his face when he pointed up to a corner of Prospera Centre after a practice last week. Section he said proudly. I think thats where my cheering section sits. Its getting bigger and bigger every game.

What he says is true, and thats because word is getting out about the big kid from Abbotsford whos finally forced his way onto the Chilliwack Bruins roster. Two years after being selected by the Bruins in the annual WHL bantam draft, Ramsay finds himself firmly entrenched among the teams top six blueliners, and life is good. My goal at training camp in September was to make the team and I thought I did a pretty good job, Ramsay said. I think I surprised a lot of people. I worked hard over the summer and it paid off.

Skating was always the big issue for the hulking six-foot four defence-man, and thats where the off-season Public Safety Inspection Division 604.851.4150 ABBOTSFORD 1 I Hockey TiraiDnim: hd dh amid off ic Ralph Vos, Director of Hockey Operations working on powerskating development with initiation atom participants. can monitor their child progress Pictures not words are easier to understand when teaching the game of hoc key "Say well said AIH also features a core training areagym where their professional kinesiologist puts plavers through core workouts involving balance boards swiss balls and medicine balls Balance is important because in hockey everything is done on one leg and the blade is 100 times smaller than your foot Savwell noted The facihtv also features a skate null a skating treadmill that allows for specialized skating instruction Naywell Itarned the theory of visual kinesthetic skatemiU training from his work with Dusan Bcmcky over the previous nine and a half vears Bemcky is a renowned trainer who has worked with more than 100 NHL plavers The Hockey Performance Centre (HP( shows pictures to the pupils allowing them to become more efficient their technique "We tram you to keep your feet moving while handling or shooting the puck Say well said The ATR and the HPC combined, offer a wide vanety of hockey training including skill camps pow erskating stickhandling passing body checking and shooting clinics Long term development with consistent attention to skill development will help students reach their best performance We think can do this more inexpensively than am where else Ourpnmary goal is to help ALL the young plavers in the Abbotsford community improve their game Say well said For more information click on www abbotsfordtrainmgnnk com For many boys growing up in cold weather climates playing pond hockey is a favourite winter activ itv In the Lower Mainland however plaving pond hockey on outdoor surfaces simply is a limited possibil ity in 2008 At Abbotsford Training Rink (ATR) evervone believes in the value of allowing kids to play the game in a unstructured setting without excessive coaching One of the most distinctive elements of the ATR a hockey training facility featuring a smaller ice surface is they encourage pond hockey Plavers of all ages and skill levels can sign up for three-on three hockey leagues on the smaller indoor rink "We wanted to create a facility where young children could learn the joy of hockey without so much structure "explained Berme Savwell who along with partners ill tJnruh Arthur landblad and Dave hthier operate AIR AIR shift has updated the facility at 1 00 South Fraser Way and they re aiming for a grand opening in mid Lcbruary Tile AIR pond hockey program has a distinctly old school feel but the multi faceted hockey facility has some lofty goals supported by state of the art equipment The mam rink has six video cameras focussed on the ice surface so the training staff including Ralph Vos and Peter Hay can assist the students skill development 1 he cameras are connected to a lounge upstairs where the parents Pictured left to right: Keegan Cumiskey, Brodie Saywell, and Spencer Miller learn skating and passing skills, while using video training. vWOTsnemiatiMfec itfifflittMtiMStom umiit t'JtwM.