The Port Alberni Bulldogs of the BCHL have been holding a spring prospects camp in Osoyoos for more than a decade and have every intention of returning for many years to come, says head coach and general manager Kevin Willison. Almost 90 players attended the camp at the Sun Bowl Arena this past weekend. (Keith Lacey photo)
It’s a long way from Port Alberni on Vancouver Island to the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos, but it’s a trip Kevin Willison and management with the Port Alberni Bulldogs hockey club plan on making every spring for years to come.
Since 2001, when the Bulldogs were owned by the Okanagan Hockey School, the British Columbian Hockey League (BCHL) franchise has been holding its annual spring prospects in Osoyoos.
The relationship between the hockey club and this community was so strong, there was never any consideration of moving the spring camp anywhere else when the franchise became community owned last summer, said head coach and general manager Kevin Willison.
“Osoyoos is the perfect location for us, not only because of the beautiful weather and beautiful scenery in the spring, but also because we attract a lot of kids from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and this is a lot more central than having to travel all the way to the island and Port Alberni,” said Willison.
“It’s also great because you’re almost guaranteed there’s going to be some decent weather in Osoyoos this time of the year and the parents of the players look forward to turning it into a mini-vacation.”
The Bulldogs franchise has been holding a spring prospects camp in Osoyoos for the past 14 years and the new ownership group doesn’t have any intention of changing this any time soon, said Willison.
“Town staff are very accommodating and go out of their way to make us feel welcome and wanted,” he said. “The parks and recreation department are so helpful and they have everything ready once we get here.
“The hotels and motels are also very thankful for our business and go out of their way to make us feel comfortable.”
This year’s camp, which started on Friday and wrapped up Sunday, attracted 87 players from across B.C. and the three other western provinces as well as a dozen American prospects, said Willison.
The camp is open to any player born after 1996, he said.
“There will be a few kids here who have a legitimate shot at playing in the BCHL next year, but most of them are a year or two away from competing at that level,” he said. “This is about establishing relationships and letting our coaching staff get a look at some players who might have a shot at making our club a year or two from now.”
Willison said he used to vacation in Osoyoos with his parents and family when he was a young boy and he always welcomes a return visit.
The Bulldogs just completed a “rebuilding year” where they made the playoffs, but lost in the first round, said Willison.
The season before, they lost in the conference finals in the seventh-and-deciding game to Surrey Eagles in overtime.
Surrey went on to defeat the Penticton Vees in the BCHL championship series and then proceeded to win the national championship.
Willison said he and other members of the management with the Bulldogs look forward to returning to Osoyoos for the annual spring prospects camp for many years to come.
“We have a great working relationship with the town and we always get a terrific turnout of kids, so we’re very happy with the camp here in Osoyoos and I’m sure we’ll be coming back here for many years to come,” he said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
