Dynamite duo racks up the points for Russell bantams

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/02/2011 (5512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Russell Rams took their show to Brandon and went undefeated in their five Bantam AA games at the Victoria Inn-Precision Toyota Tournament of Champions.

Rylee Zimmer and Jayce Hawryluk continued to play leading roles for the Rams as the pair combined for 40 points during the four-day minor hockey showcase. Both players rank high on Western Hockey League scouting lists, with Hawryluk eligible for this year’s bantam draft and Zimmer in line for the 2012 draft. They only enhanced their draft stock this past weekend as Zimmer won the Bantam AA scoring title with 10 goals and 21 points and Hawryluk was the runner-up with nine goals and 19 points.

Hawryluk even managed three goals and an assist Sunday morning during an abbreviated appearance in the consolation final, as the Rams defeated the Seine Valley Snipers 8-6. He left in the second period with a knee injury that’s expected to keep him out of the AA provincials at Morris in early March.

Hawryluk was diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL tear that’s projected to take two to four weeks to heal. His absence is a major blow for an overachieving Russell team that has already been without another bona-fide WHL draft candidate, defenceman David Dunn, for much of this season. Dunn, who recently recovered from a broken collarbone, hurt his back during the Rams’ first game at the Tournament of Champions and didn’t return.

What’s more, the Rams generally operate with a short bench. They’re an A-level team bumped up to AA for competitive purposes, and they’ve had no problem competing with the big boys.

In the Brandon tourney, Russell posted three wins and two ties but failed to qualify for the gold-medal game because of the event’s points system. Regardless, the Rams had already made their mark — again.

“We did good,” said Zimmer, a centre who is almost 6-foot-0 and about 145 pounds. “It’s been tough games and good competition, compared to our league. We played hard every shift. All our kids are talented. We’re all good enough to play AA hockey.”

Zimmer had three assists in Sunday’s game. Brayden Cullum scored a goal and set up three others to give him 13 points in five games. Landon Cochrane, Nicholas Cochrane, Glen McIvor and Luke Keating each added a goal and an assist.

Zimmer said the absence of Dunn and the loss of Hawryluk made the consolation final that much more challenging and necessitated shorter shifts.

“We use each other a lot,” Zimmer said of his chemistry with Hawryluk. “It’s good to have someone like Jayce to help you out. He’s a really talented player.”

Zimmer, who turns 14 next month, is a Grade 8 student in Russell. Zimmer’s father, Devin, coaches the Rams.

“All in all, it’s good hockey,” he said. “At the end of it, as long as the kids get better and develop and learn something from it, I’m definitely happy with it. It was very good for the kids to play this higher level of hockey. It makes them better players and stronger. The close games are a lot better for development.”

OVERTIME: In the Bantam AA championship game, the Notre Dame Hounds beat the Southeast Blizzard 7-1 Sunday. Joey Ratelle had four goals and an assist to lead the private school from Wilcox, Sask. … Shattuck St. Mary’s of Faribault, Minn., defeated Airdrie, Alta., 3-1 in the Midget AA final on Sunday. Jake Vitta had a goal and an assist for Shattuck, while Andrew Sprang made 21 saves … In the Midget A final, Stephan Pelequin fired four goals as the Estevan Bruins beat Notre Dame 8-3.

» jmacneil@brandonsun.com