The Castlegar Rebels’ three all-stars did not disappoint Saturday night in Fernie.
Ryan Aynsley and Mike Wiest each scored twice as the Kootenay Conference won a one-sided affair 10-3 over the Okanagan Conference in the annual KIJHL All-Star Game. Wiest, a former Fernie Ghostrider acquired in the Andrew Walton trade last month, was named Kootenay Conference Player of the Game for his efforts.
“It was nice to play in front of those fans again,” Wiest said.
Aynsley scored what proved to be the eventual game-winner late in the first period, finishing off a pretty passing play from Golden Rocket T.J. Fairall and Castlegar product Scott Morisseau.
Morisseau, who represented the host Ghostriders alongside Walton, chipped in a first-period tally to go along with two assists.
It was the second straight appearance representing the host team for the 19-year-old sniper: he figured heavily in the Kootenay Conference onslaught during last year’s event at the Beaver Valley Arena, but said the fans in Fernie embraced the All-Star experience.
“Every time I went to the gym I had people asking me if I was playing in the game,” Morisseau said, “it’s a great hockey town.”
Rebels captain Taylor Anderson added a third-period marker playing on a line with Creston Valley’s Kane Dawe and Golden’s Josh MacDonald.
The Rebels showed well in Friday’s Prospects Game too.
Diego Bartlett had two assists in the 6-4 loss to the Okanagan Conference in a game featuring Castlegar teammates Alex Ross and Jamie Vlanich.
Beaver Valley’s 16-year-old phenom Dallas Calvin had a hat trick, and was named Kootenay Conference Player of the Game.