Josh Connolly and Brett Harris have played a lot of big games in their hockey careers.
None compare to the situation they find themselves in today in Halifax.
Connolly, a 15-year-old defenceman from Prince George, and Harris, a 16-year-old forward who calls 108 Mile Ranch his home, are playing for gold today at the Canada Winter Games.
They will suit up for Team B.C. against Quebec in a game broadcast nationally on TSN2 (Cable 147, 3:30 p.m. PST start).
B.C. defeated Ontario 5-2 Thursday night in a semifinal game that followed Quebec's 5-4 overtime win over Alberta.
"This is the biggest game in their lives," said B.C. coach Brent Arsenault of Prince George. "It's been a really exciting tournament with a lot of tough games and today the boys really stepped it up and had a great victory over Team Ontario, definitely one of the favorites going in."
Curtis Lazar of Vernon scored three goals and added an assist for B.C. in Thursday's game. Dylan Bowen of Lumby and Cole Sanford of Vernon also scored, as B.C. rallied from a 1-0 deficit. The boys from the west led 2-1 after one period and 4-1 after two. Nick Ritchie and Bo Horvat were the Ontario goalscorers.
"We got pucks in deep and were really physical on their d-men and made them turn over pucks in their zone and we crashed the net," said Arsenault, an assistant coach for the Prince George Cougars. "They took it to us pretty good in the first seven minutes and outshot us 11-2 and we just came on and outplayed them from that point on."
Connolly, the leading scorer among defenceman on his Cariboo Cougars major midget team and the brother of Brett, the Prince George Cougars captain, has two assists in the tournament so far. Harris, who also plays for the Cariboo Cougars, has one tournament goal so far. Both were held off the scoresheet Thursday.
"Harris was great, he worked really hard in our own zone and was great on face-offs and he won one of our three hard-workers awards," said Arsenault. "Connolly played on the power play, some penalty-killing and he really skated well and moved the puck well. They both played well. Everyone bought in today and that's the reason we won."
Arsenault, a native of Antigonish, N.S., is enjoying his chance to coach in his home province in one of the marquee events of the Canada Winter Games. A sold-out crowd of 12,000 is expected for the gold-medal game today at Halifax Metro Centre.
"It's been an excellent opportunity and I'm very thankful for it," he said. "Any time you get to play for a gold medal at the Canada Winter Games it's pretty special. I have lots of family and friends and relatives up here and they're cheering me on and sending texts."
n Today in biathlon, Sarah Beaudry of Prince George, who has already won gold and bronze medals, will ski the anchor leg for the B.C. women's team in today's 3 X 6km relay. B.C. is ranked second behind Quebec in the event. Two Prince George biathletes, Aaron Neumann, 19, and Arthur Roots, 16, will compete for B.C. in the men's 3 X 7.5km relay, also held at Martock Ski Resort, north of Halifax.
n In wheelchair basketball, B.C. lost 65-52 to Nova Scotia in the fifth-place game and ended up seventh overall. Avril Harris of Prince George and Erik Vliegenthart of Quesnel play for Team B.C. Quebec beat Ontario 77-63 in the gold-medal game Thursday. Saskatchewan edged Manitoba for bronze, 58-56.
