Senior hockey is back in town.
And it couldn't come at a better time for Stew Malgunas.
The 40-year-old former NHL defenceman has waited a long time to wear a Prince George Mohawks jersey again and he'll get that chance tonight at the Coliseum (7 p.m.) when the Mohawks host the Penticton Vees in the first of a two-game senior exhibition series.
"I'm really looking forward to playing with my brother (Kevin) again, the last time we played together was a couple games of pro (in Portland, Maine) when he got called up from the East Coast League," said Malgunas. "We played junior together for two years in Seattle and had lots of fun, and hopefully a few people will come out and watch us try to do our best for P.G."
The Mohawks are getting off to a much earlier start than they did last season, when they returned to the ice in March for the first time in 25 years to renew their provincial intermediate/senior hockey ties. The Prince George boys traveled to Mackenzie for their first games against the Fort St. John Flyers and then hosted the Flyers in a three-game exhibition series in April. The Mohawks lost all three of those games, but the seed was planted to form a stronger team for this season and that appears to be the case.
Knowing they would be playing more this season, the players have been better at preparing their bodies for the rigours of hockey wars.
"I got injured, pulled my groin, halfway through my first shift (in the April series)," laughed Malgunas. "But this time I'm in a little bit better shape. Hopefully the head can take over for the legs at some point in the game.
"We are ahead of the game from last year and hopefully we'll have a good showing this weekend and garner more interest. The more guys and the better players we can get out, the more it will help the Mohawks."
This year's Mohawks team features former Prince George juniors Joe Morgan. Mark Nelson, Peter Kolida, Brent Williams, Shaun Fomenoff, Paul Brown, Jamie Molendyk and Tyler Brough, with Lyman Miller and Guy Walch handling the goaltending duties. Grant Williams is the coach.
David Keough, Jason Mager and Lee J. Leslie are also being wooed to join the Mohawks
Malgunas said former NHL forward Turner Stevenson has agreed to join the team in its attempts to win the Allan Cup triple-A senior national title. Stevenson, an assistant coach in the WHL for the Seattle Thunderbirds, would not be available to the Mohawks until the T-Birds season is over.
"If we could get (Victoria Grizzlies head coach) Victor Gervais, we'd have all the Seattle Thunderbirds (from Prince George) back in the late 80's playing together again," said Malgunas.
The Mohawks and Vees meet again Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Elksentre. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children.
