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Stevenson right at home with Warriors

West Kelowna-raised forward fitting in nicely with BCHL team
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West Kelowna product Chase Stevenson joined his hometown Warriors in October.

Growing up in West Kelowna,remembers many a winter night cheering for his hometown Warriors at Royal LePage Place.

He even owns a stick autographed by the entire 2007-08 edition of the B.C. Hockey League team.

So when Stevenson got a call from West Kelowna assistant coach Shae Naka in late October asking him to join the Warriors, the 17-year-old forward »å¾±»å²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t need much time to arrive at an answer.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá was extremely excited to get the ³¦²¹±ô±ô,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ said Stevenson, who played much of his minor hockey in West Kelowna. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá was excited for the chance to play so close to home, and also for a team that was coming off a championship.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá ³¦´Ç³Ü±ô»å²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t have asked for a much better ²õ¾±³Ù³Ü²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ

Stevenson, who lives just five minutes from the °Â²¹°ù°ù¾±´Ç°ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ home arena, was in his second season with the B.C. Major Midget ³¢±ð²¹²µ³Ü±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Okanagan Rockets at the time of the promotion.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward has since played in 15 games with the Warriors and has registered five assists.

While Stevenson is still waiting for his first BCHL goal, head coach and GM Rylan Ferster likes the array of abilities the young forward brings to the Warriors.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá think his ceiling is really ³ó¾±²µ³ó,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ Ferster said of ³§³Ù±ð±¹±ð²Ô²õ´Ç²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s potential. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœH±ð does everything well. ±á±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a good checker, he sees the game well, and ³ó±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s good offensively.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœH±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s been a bit snake-bitten since he joined us, but that should come. ±á±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a very complete, 200-foot player. °Â±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™r±ð happy to have ³ó¾±³¾.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ

Stevenson had limited BCHL experience prior to joining the Warriors, having played three games last season with the Penticton Vees.

He started 2016-17 at the training camp of the Vernon Vipers before an injury prompted his return to the midget Rockets.

Now, after a brief adjustment period, Stevenson looks to have found a permanent home at the junior A level.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœA³Ù the start, the speed was a little hard to adjust to, but that was more of a mental ³Ù³ó¾±²Ô²µ,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ he said. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœF´Ç°ù sure, ±õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m starting to feel more comfortable and ±õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m gaining confidence.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve had a million chances to ²õ³¦´Ç°ù±ð,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ he added with a laugh, 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœa²Ô»å ³ó²¹±¹±ð²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t got one yet, but hopefully ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™l±ô come ²õ´Ç´Ç²Ô.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ

Down the road, Stevenson is hoping to land a scholarship to play at a U.S. college, ideally for the start of the 2018-19 season.

Warriors vs ²Ñ±ð°ù°ù¾±³Ù³Ù91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦

The Warriors will battle the Interior rival Merritt Centennials this weekend in a BCHL home-and-home set.

The clubs will face off Friday, 7 p.m., at Royal LePage Place, then again Saturday at Nicola Valley Arena in Merritt.

The teams met in a similar scenario last month, Dec. 9 and 10, with West Kelowna (18-17-1-0) taking both games from the Cents.

With the extremely tight from third to sixth ±è±ô²¹³¦±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ”j³Ü²õ³Ù five points separate the four ³Ù±ð²¹³¾²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ”Ferster said the importance of a two-game set ³¦²¹²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t be overstated.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœA home and home series like this is always ³ó³Ü²µ±ð,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ he said. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀát91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a bit like a mini playoff series, and ³Ù³ó±ð°ù±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s likely going to be a little animosity there, so that makes for intense hockey.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœT³ó±ð²â91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™r±ð good for rivalries and ³Ù³ó±ð²â91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™r±ð just fun. As a coach, I always look forward to ³Ù³ó±ð³¾.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ

Meanwhile, Ferster is doing some shopping around this week, looking to bolster his roster for the stretch run of the season. The µþ°ä±á³¢91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s trade deadline arrives next Tuesday, Jan. 10.

 





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