Michael Garteig has seen this movie before in the Fred Page Cup B.C. Hockey League final, but this time he'll have the chance to help write an ending he likes.
Garteig is the starting goalie for the Powell River Kings, who on Friday began their quest for redemption against the Vernon Vipers, the team that beat them for the league title a year ago in a seven-game series.
Unlike last year's championship series, Garteig, a 19-year-old from Prince George, hasn't been watching the playoffs from the bench. He was on the ice Friday as the Kings hosted the Vipers in Game 1 of the series.
"It's a lot of fun playing for a winning team and it's been a great year, I'm having a blast," said Garteig, just before he left for the rink.
"It's playoff hockey and one mistake can cost you a lot. Last year in Game 7 Vernon got the bounces, two goals off skates and shinpads and that was the difference, but they deserved it. They had a lot of firepower. The two teams play very similar styles. They frustrate you, they don't play an exciting game, they slow the game down and capitalize on their chances. But we play a frustrating game too, we don't score a lot of goals but we hold leads and it's going to be a good series."
The defending national-champion Vipers drew first blood with a 3-1 win Friday. Dylan Walchuk and Bryce Kakoske opened up a 2-0 lead and Michael Zalewski scored early in the third period as the Vipers launched 22 shots at Garteig to lock up the win. Daniel Schuler was the lone marksman for Powell River. Game 2 is set for tonight in Powell River.
Powell River and Vernon drew first-round byes for finishing first in their respective divisions and had more than two weeks to rest before they started playoffs. The Kings had to come back from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Victoria Grizzlies in the second round, then posted a 4-2 series win over the Surrey Eagles 4-2 to advance to the final. Vernon qualified for the final by eliminating Westside and Salmon Arm, both in six-game series. The Kings are trying to become the first community-owned team to win the BCHL championship.
"We had 16 days off and in a way it hurt us but at the same time it helped us," said Garteig. "We went down 3-1 to Victoria, but having those days off we got better as time went on and were in better shape by the end of the series. That's what really won it for us against Victoria. Surrey was a good team but that was a little easier for us."
Vernon and Powell River split the season series with one win apiece.
Defence has been the key all season for the the Kings and Garteig has been a human fortress. He set BCHL season records for goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.934) and tied Brad Thiessen's league standard for most shutouts with seven. Through 13 playoff games, Garteig sported a sparkling 1.97 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Kings' backup Sean Maguire has played just 10 minutes of the postseason.
"Our defence has been good all year and that's a big credit to how I've had a good year and that's what we need to beat Vernon," said Garteig. "The goals-against record reflects a whole lot on the team but the save percentage record is more an individual stat. I was pretty consistent through the whole season and that was a big thing for me. It gave me a scholarship [at Quinnipiac] and it's made us win.
"I think a lot of people in Prince George didn't think I was good enough or had what it takes. I was always small, so size was always a factor and it's nice to be here. Hopefully we'll keep winning and go all the way."
