Sports

It may not have meant much in the standings but the Beaver Valley Nitehawks head into the post-season with the satisfaction they gave the division champs everything they could in the club’s final games of the 2010-11 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League regular season.

Despite a strong effort in front of a big hometown crowd on Friday and a one-goal loss on Saturday, the start of the BCHL playoffs is going to be a very familiar one for the Trail Smoke Eaters.

For the second weekend in a row, the Trail Curling Club will be determining which team will represent the Kootenays at a provincial championship.

Anywhere the Trail Smoke Eaters play, they conjure up visions of world championship teams long before any of the current players were even born.

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks could be labeled as the poster child for parity in the BCHL’s Interior Division.

The Beaver Valley Nitehawks used a three-goal outburst in the second period to overcome a 1-0 deficit en route to a 5-2 win over the Spokane Braves on Tuesday in Fruitvale.

Cullen Bradshaw came to the BCHL to win a championship and hopefully get noticed enough to earn a college scholarship.

The Canada Winter Games may begin on Friday with the Opening Ceremonies but only one of five local athletes on Team B.C. will compete in the first week.

Often the success of any team depends upon their top players leading the way.

One night after its offence was stymied by solid goaltending, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks exploded to give themselves another boost of confidence heading towards the post season.