Jeremy Julian, Adrian Coulter, Cole Prince, Byron Sam, Jack Burgart, Brett Leidl, and Matty Saharchuk have all grown up playing minor hockey for the Fort St James Stars.
We have all seen them light up the Fort Forum with their dazzling hockey skills over the years as minor hockey players.
This year all seven players were playing junior hockey in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) which is no small feat.
We are all very proud of the achievements of these young men having left home at their young ages and playing hockey and going to school in different towns.
They each excelled with their respective teams, all making the first round of playoffs.
Adrian Coulter, 19 years old, and Jack Burgart , 17 years old, helped their team, the Princeton Posse, to their first round of playoffs.
Jack Burgart played a shutout winner in their third playoff game, winning 4-0 for his team. Adrian Coulter was the captain of their team leading them in the victory.
They fought a good fight ending their series with loss at 4-1.
Cole Prince, 18 years old, played outstanding, helping his team, the Kamloops Storm, to make first round of playoffs as well.
Prince played with great skill against his good friend Matty Saharchuk in the first round and they fought hard, bringing the Knights to five games before going down.
Byron Sam, 18 years old, and Jeremy Julian, 19 years old, played with all heart for the Columbia Valley Rockies, who forced the Fernie Ghostriders to six games, finally succumbing to them 4-2 in the first round of playoffs.
Brett Leidl, 18 years old, plays for the Castlegar Rebels.
As a young player he helped his team come first place in the entire league this season. They defeated the Spokane Braves in their first round of playoffs. They are now into the second round of playoffs against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks starting March 4. We wish Leidl and his team all the best.
Matty Saharchuk, 17 years old, plays for the North Okanagan Knights in Armstrong, BC.
He won Rookie of the Year as a 17-year-old for the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the KIJHL League finishing his season with 60 points as the scoring leader for his team and points leader.
He helped his team win their first round of playoffs against his good friend Cole Prince and the Kamloops Storm.
They are now into the second round vs. the Sicamous Eagles starting March 4. Matty and Brett's games can be watched on the KIJHL website under webcasts for all interested hockey fans.
On behalf of your hometown fans in Fort St. James we extend our warmest congratulations to Cole, Adrian, Byron, Jack and Jeremy who are home now. We are so proud of all your hard work and talent. And we all wish Brett and Matty all the best health and strength as they continue their playoff hockey. Go Stars!