Camrose Kodiaks Alone in First Place

By Kelly Sharp

He shrugged off the fact the Camrose Kodiaks are the only unbeaten after three days of the RBC Royal Bank Cup Canadian junior A hockey championship in Prince George. Allen York, the 6-4 17-year-old goalie faced 23 shots mostly away from the danger zone in the Kodiaks 3-1 victory over the Selkirk Steelers. Camrose held period leads of 2-1 and 3-1 in a game they controlled from the out set. Back to York who was his steady self in the third period when the Steelers out shot the Kodiaks 14-6.

“I wasn’t happy with my first game,” Allen York said about the 4-2 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings. The projected NHL draft pick shared the regular season goaltending duties with Keanan Boomer in the Kodiaks net until Boomer was sidelined with a rotator cuff injury in February. York, who played triple-A midget in Leduc last season, made the most of his opportunity to carry the goaltending load for the Alberta Junior Hockey League club.

“It’s been quite a ride,” noted the 17-year-old from Wetaskwin.

His impressive goaltending in the AJHL playoffs continued in the 5-game Doyle Cup series victory over the BCHL champion Nanaimo Clippers.

“Our defense in that series was outstanding, I only had to make 1 or 2 big saves a game,” York said.

The head coach and general manager of the Pacific Region’s best says Allen York has the total package behind the mask.

“He’s so relaxed nothing really fazes him, he competes, he battles, moves well, to be a great player you have to have the mental game, he’s got it,” Boris Rybalka said.

York and his teammates get the day off in the Royal Bank Cup. The 1-1 Spruce Kings go against the 1-1 Aurora Tigers in the only game today, a 7PM start time at CN Centre.

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