Kamloops Storm players at combine testing (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

YOUNG TALENT

Top Junior ‘A’ prospects in Kamloops to fight for league supremacy

Nov 28, 2023 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — The best 16- and 17-year-old Junior ‘A’ hockey players in the province are in Kamloops this week for the second annual B.C. Hockey Conference Top Prospects Game. The game will pit the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) versus the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) for Junior ‘A’ supremacy in British Columbia.

With the eyes of scouts trained upon them, the top prospects in the KIJHL took to the Olympic sheet at McArthur Island Tuesday morning (Nov. 28) for combine testing.

“Just got to go out there and try to do my best and see what happens,” said Kamloops Storm Forward Teghan Mullin. “Obviously for the game, I want to do good for myself, but it’s also important to prove that this league is better than that league.”

Mullin, fellow rookie Thomas Clarke and second-year forward Jake Phillips-Watts are representing the host Kamloops Storm at the top prospects game Tuesday evening versus the Pacific Coast’s best. For Clarke, it’s about settling into his style of game early.

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“Definitely, a couple nerves in there, but I think maybe take the first period, get the nerves out and then simplify my game and just play how I play,” Clarke told CFJC Sports.

With rivals turned teammates for 48 hours, the KIJHL squad isn’t planning to take any prisoners tonight as they fight to put their league atop the pyramid of the new Junior ‘A’ landscape in B.C.

“You have to go in with the same mindset. I mean this game is a huge game, so there is a little bit of nerves there, but just take it one shift at a time. In front of all these scouts, it’s awesome — its good exposure. It’s just a great game to play in,” said Phillips-Watts.

The Storm have been playing well this year, and are rightfully represented with the trio of talented forwards at the event, tied for the most players in the game.

“It’s super special hearing my name called to be part of this team and among the best players in the league,” added Mullin. “I think it was a personal achievement. But also for our team, we have three guys that are on this team and I think its a perfect way to showcase our team at this event.”

The puck drops for Tuesday night’s top prospects game at 7:00 p.m. at McArthur Island.