Cochranite Connor Bouchard and the Tri-City Americans are gearing up for the third round of the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs when they kick off the Western Conference Finals on April 20 against the Everett Silvertips.
The Americans have rolled through the first two rounds of playoffs, sweeping fellow Cochranite Dillon Dube and the second-seed Kelowna Rockets while also sweeping the Victoria Royals in four straight games to stretch their playoff record to 8-0. Tri-City finished the season with a 38-25-8-1 record, good for 85 points and the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, but they will be heavy underdogs in the upcoming series against the top seeded Silvertips, who finished the year 14 points higher than the Americans with a 47-20-2-3 record which translates into 99 points, third best in the WHL behind the Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos.
Bouchard feels the standings maybe be a bit misleading as the Americans won three of eight meetings with Everett, with all but two losses being decided by two goals or less. Bouchard also commented on the fact that almost half of the Americans’ games against the Silvertips came before the WHL trade deadline in which Tri-City added perennial WHL all-star defenceman Jake Bean.
“I think we went through a lot of adversity this season with injuries. We couldn’t find a rhythm but things are coming together really well,” Bouchard said.
“We feel really good with our game and have had a lot of success. The leadership and character we have in the room is unbelievable and it’s showed these last few rounds.”
The 16-year-old Bouchard is in his first season in the WHL having played in 60 games this season for the Americans, scoring two goals and adding six assists. Bouchard was also one of the 66 players selected to represent Canada at the 2017 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge Nov. 5 to 11 in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, B.C. The Cochrane native suited up for Canada White, which finished fourth in the tournament after losing to the Czech Republic 2-1 in the bronze medal game. He played in six games, registering one assist and four penalty minutes in those contests. Bouchard has also played in all eight playoff games, registering one assist in those contests.
While he hasn’t been putting up huge numbers, the Cochrane-born forward said he’s happy with his game so far during playoffs and believes the Amerks can beat the rock solid Carter Hart who backstopped Canada to a gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Hockey Championships over the Christmas break, while putting up video game like numbers in the Western League. Hart played in 41 regular season games as well as 10 playoff contests going 39-7-2 over those games, while posting a 1.64 goals-against-average and also adding nine shutouts.
“It’s been good. I’ve been happy with my game so far and I’m really lucky to have the guys I have to look up to and learn from. My teammates have made it real easy,” said Bouchard.
“As for their goalie (Carter Hart), we just need to play our game and we’ll be successful. Get a ton of pucks on him and bodies to the front of the net and play hard. That’s all you can really do … he’s obviously a great goalie, but if we do the little things right I think we’ll find success.”
Bouchard, who is soon to finishing up his rookie season, said he’s just soaking up the experience of making a run to the conference finals.
“This year has been unreal … so much fun honestly. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun playing hockey” Bouchard said.
“But we’re only halfway to achieving our goal of winning a championship so there’s still work to be done.”
