Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Marissa Tiel

REMATCH – Whitehorse Huskies forward Rob Warner fights for the puck in front of the Kelowna Sparta net during the teams’ first meeting last December. The Huskies won the game 11-7, but were dealt their only loss of the season so far in the second game. The Sparta return to Whitehorse for a two-game series this Friday and Saturday at Takhini Arena.

Huskies and Sparta get rematch this weekend

The head coach of Kelowna’s Senior AA hockey team is hoping to offer a challenge to the Whitehorse Huskies this weekend.

By Marissa Tiel on February 14, 2017

The head coach of Kelowna’s Senior AA hockey team is hoping to offer a challenge to the Whitehorse Huskies this weekend.

Kim Barnstable, who coaches the Kelowna Sparta, said that while their roster may be smaller than usual, they still want to compete.

Life conflicts are affecting the Sparta’s weekend roster with many of their top players unable to make the trip north for two more Senior AA exhibition games ahead of the Coy Cup playoffs for the Sparta and the Coy Cup tournament for the Huskies.

Barnstable said that other players on the team will have to step it up to make up for the difference.

The Huskies and the Sparta last met for two exhibition games in early December.

They split the series 1-1 as the Huskies won the first game 11-7 and dropped the second 5-4 in overtime.

The Sparta haven’t played a game since then, while the Huskies have gotten in two. They played the Kainai Braves in early January, sweeping the series 2-0.

This is the first season for the Sparta in Senior AA hockey. The majority of the players are also members of other teams in Kelowna.

“It’s kind of interesting because it’s the first time we’ve put a team together for the season for this type of play,” said Barnstable. “It’s hard to find teams to play.”

They have met their minimum number of exhibition games as required by B.C. Hockey to play for a spot in the Coy Cup tournament at the end of March in Whitehorse.

The Sparta’s win is still the only blemish on the Huskies’ record this season.

They’re looking forward to coming back to Whitehorse and were impressed with their welcome during their last visit.

“I and everyone was very impressed with the hospitality and the way we were treated,” said Barnstable. “It was a good experience for our guys.”

The Huskies and the Sparta meet Friday at 6:45 p.m. at Takhini Arena and again on Saturday at 6:15 p.m.

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