Dec. 13 / 07

By Guy Bertrand
Times Sports Editor

Kevin Limbert will be the Trail Smoke Eaters lone representative at this year's BCHL All Star Game in Victoria on Jan. 23.

The Smokies captain, who leads the team with 35 points in 33 games, will join 20 other players, including former teammate David Arduin, on the Interior All Stars.

The tenacious Limbert was an obvious choice from the Smokies' roster. However, the selection process, involving league coaches and general managers, raised a few eyebrows.

The starting lineup for the Interior Division features three Penticton players - Zac Dalpe, Zac Josephier and Castlegar native Alex Evin - one Vernon player Hunter Bishop - and two players form the sixth-place Prince George Spruce Kings - Ryan Devries and Jordy Christian.

Prince George had four players in total named to the team while the second-place Salmon Arm Silverbacks had two chosen. The Westside Warriors had four players named including Arduin. He was chosen based on his performance with Trail and after arriving in Westside in a trade two weeks ago.

Penticton led the way with five selections while Vernon has Bishop as its sole representative.

The Merritt Centennials, winners of only seven games so far this season, had two players selected including goaltender Shane Mainprize.

Trail and the Quesnel Millionaires both had one player named to the team.

Over in the Coastal Division, the league-leading Nanaimo Clippers had three players named to the starting lineup and a total of four representatives.

Forward Eric Filiou, defenceman Matt Irwin and goaltender Michael Garman were picked to start the game along with Victoria defenceman Jordie Berm and forwards Carlo Finucci of Burnaby and Scott Knowles from Surrey.

Langley, currently fourth in the Coastal Division, joined the Clippers with the most selections at four.

Burnaby had three players named while Surrey, Powell River, Victoria and Cowichan Valley each had two players picked.

Cowichan's representatives are Christina Lake's Clinton Pettapiece and Brooks Robinson who played in Trail with Team Canada West at the World Challenge.

Alberni Valley, which has the fewest wins in the BCHL, had one player selected.

The Smokies schedule and the All Star Game couldn't have worked out much better for Limbert.

The Smokies will be on Vancouver Island the weekend prior to the Jan. 23 event. The Smokies are in Victoria on Jan. 19 and Nanaimo on Jan. 20 before returning home.

Limbert will obviously stay behind and enjoy the festivities, which begin on Jan. 21.

STAR CHOICES: Trail Smoke Eaters captain Kevin Limbert will be rejoining former teammate David Arduin (22) for the BCHL All Star Game on Jan. 23 in Victoria. Limbert is the lone Trail representative while Arduin will represent his new team, the Westside Warriors.