Brothers Brady and Austin Daniels are back in action in B.C. but this time theySA国际影视传媒檙e at opposite ends of the province.

Brady Daniels is in his freshman year at Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, where heSA国际影视传媒檚 majoring in sport and recreation management, after spending three seasons in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) with the Castlegar Rebels and Kimberley Dynamiters. He didnSA国际影视传媒檛 play hockey anywhere last season because of the pandemic but managed to crack the MarinersSA国际影视传媒� roster for this season.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted to go school in either B.C. or Alberta,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 put in applications for schools in Alberta but no dice there.SA国际影视传媒�

A chance conversation with Noah Danforth, one of his old teammates from Kimberley, saw the 22-year-old throw his name into the hat at VIU.

SA国际影视传媒淣oah got in and told me to apply there and I was accepted,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 funny because ISA国际影视传媒檓 living with two of my former teammates in Kimberley.SA国际影视传媒�

The Mariners play in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) and theySA国际影视传媒檙e one of four teams in the loop this season. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a short regular season SA国际影视传媒� just 12 games in total SA国际影视传媒� and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a much shorter grind than junior hockey.

That was something Brady, a centre, said he had to get used to.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a big adjustment from junior, where youSA国际影视传媒檙e playing 40 or 50 games a season,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淗ere, youSA国际影视传媒檙e playing each of the other teams four times.SA国际影视传媒�

The Mariners returned to the ice on Jan. 22 against the University of Victoria (UVic) after a two-month layoff. That game ended in a 6-0 win.

The Christmas break included first semester final exams in December, something that can bring extra stress for athletes, Brady acknowledged.

SA国际影视传媒淗ockey might not be on your mind when youSA国际影视传媒檙e studying for finals but you get back to normal once thatSA国际影视传媒檚 out of the way,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The BCIHL is a step up from the hockey Brady said he played in the KIJHL and he always wanted to play at that level. He got his first taste of it while in Castlegar.

SA国际影视传媒淪elkirk College plays in the BCIHL and they play games at the arena in Castlegar, so I got to watch some of that during my first year there,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 was thinking it would be cool to play that type of hockey one day. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a convergence of guys from Canada, the U.S., Junior A, NCAA SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 a real diverse group of players.SA国际影视传媒�

The Mariners will begin a busy final month of the season on Feb. 4. They will start on the road as they visit UVic, followed by a pair of contests against the Okanagan College Lakers in Kelowna on Feb. 11 and 12 and finishing the regular season at home versus Simon Fraser University on Feb. 19.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檒l be good to roll into the playoffs with some confidence,SA国际影视传媒� said Brady. SA国际影视传媒淵ou know all the teams by then and youSA国际影视传媒檙e picking up steam.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒楳uch better situationSA国际影视传媒�

Austin, meanwhile, is back in Kimberley and is having a fine season stats-wise. As of press time, the right-winger is averaging nearly a point per game SA国际影视传媒� 27 in 31 SA国际影视传媒� and is tied for the team lead in goals with 17. The Dynamiters as a unit sit atop the Eddie Mountain Division with 50 points, one ahead of the Columbia Valley Rockies.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a much different story than last season, when Austin managed to suit up for three games with the Dynamiters before the KIJHL cancelled the season because of Covid-19.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was tough,SA国际影视传媒� Austin admitted. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e had good luck this season. The league has postponed some games (because of the pandemic) but none of ours. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e been lucky with no stoppages so far.SA国际影视传媒�

Austin is no stranger to Kimberley, having spent parts of three seasons with the team. Both brothers played together in Kimberley for the 2019-2020 season but were traded to 100 Mile House part-way through that campaign. They chose to return home to Yellowknife instead of reporting to 100 Mile House.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a much better situation this time around, said Austin.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just happy to be contributing but ISA国际影视传媒檓 more proud of our record so far,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of the guys are back from last season and we got some good rookie pickups. EveryoneSA国际影视传媒檚 contributed in some way and hopefully that means weSA国际影视传媒檒l have a deep run when the playoffs start.SA国际影视传媒�

Because Austin is 20 years old, this will be his final year of junior hockey, and he said heSA国际影视传媒檇 love to go out as a champion.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat would seal my junior career,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淓veryone wants to go out on top and itSA国际影视传媒檚 definitely something I want to do and I think we can this season.SA国际影视传媒�

The Dynamiters are in the eastern portion of the province and are only playing teams within their conference. That means they wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be seeing the likes of the Osoyoos Coyotes, the club sitting first overall in the KIJHL with 57 points, unless they meet in the final.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou cant really gauge how good those other teams are because of the no-crossover,SA国际影视传媒� said Austin. SA国际影视传媒淲e know RevelstokeSA国际影视传媒檚 a good team and so is Osoyoos and Columbia Valley. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of talent out there but weSA国际影视传媒檒l be ready, no matter who weSA国际影视传媒檙e playing.SA国际影视传媒�

Once his junior days are done, Austin has plans to go to school but he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know where yet.

SA国际影视传媒淚 havenSA国际影视传媒檛 narrowed it down,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to keep active and playing hockey so ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping to get an offer and play in college or university.SA国际影视传媒�