Jeremy Gervais is about to close out his minor hockey career with an appearance in the Telus Cup national midget championship tournament. When he laces his skates back up for 2017-18, he'll be in the junior ranks with the Nanaimo Clippers.
Gervais, an 18-year-old defenceman for the provincial champion Cariboo Cougars, has committed to the B.C. Hockey League's Clippers for next season. He's an offensive-minded blueliner who has also developed a strong defensive game in two full years with the Cariboo club, which skates in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League.
"He's got to be able to take that to the next level and play the right way," said Cougars head coach Trevor Sprague. "Two years in a row he's been a top defenceman in the Major Midget League and that's a tough thing to do.
"He's going to have to establish an identity (in the BCHL) and as an 18-year-old that's what he's going to be able to do in that league," Sprague added. "At 19 and 20, I think you're going to see him be one of the top defencemen in the league and teams aren't going to like playing against him because of how slick he is and smart he is with the puck."
This past season, Gervais was the highest-scoring defenceman in the BCHMML. In 37 games, he scored 15 times and added 34 assists for 49 points, a total that made him the team's new single-season leader on the blueline. Gervais broke a record set by Bryan Allbee, who connected for 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 2013-14. Allbee went on to play in the Western Hockey League for the Kootenay Ice and Seattle Thunderbirds and is now a member of his hometown Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL.
In the BCHMML playoffs, which saw the Cougars beat the Greater Vancouver Canadians in the championship series, Gervais added two goals and 12 points in eight games.
In his first full season with the Cougars, Gervais had 12 goals and 36 points in 40 games and was chosen to the league's all-star team.
Gervais is looking forward to joining the Clippers next season.
"It's pretty exciting to continue playing hockey in a competitive league on the Island and get the opportunity to show what I can do at the next level," he said.
Before moving on to the BCHL, Gervais will be a big part of the Cougars' quest for a national title.
The Telus Cup begins on Monday at CN Centre with three games. The Cape Breton West Islanders and Saint-Francois Blizzard will get things started at noon, followed by a 4 p.m. contest between the Mississauga Rebels and Regina Pat Canadians. At 7:30 p.m., Gervais and the Cougars will take to the ice against the Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings.
The Telus Cup preliminary round continues through Friday, with the Cougars playing at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 6 p.m. on Friday. Semifinals are set for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and medal games will be held Sunday (bronze at 11 a.m., gold at 3 p.m.).
Tickets are available at the CN Centre box office and through the Hockey Canada website (hockeycanada.ca).
