Jan. 25 / 08

By Guy Bertrand
Times Sports Editor

There hasn't been a lot of reasons to smile around the Trail Smoke Eaters dressing room of late.

The team is mired in a nine-game losing streak and facing one of the BCHL's top teams in back-to-back games this weekend.

But there was a little ray of sunshine amid the dark clouds last Thursday when second-year defenceman Scoff Warner became the third Smoke Eater this season to accept a U.S. college Scholarship.

The 19-year-old Anchorage native will be heading to the world-renown United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and playing Div. I hockey with the Army Black Nights.

"Since I was a little kid I've wanted to play Div. I hockey," said Warner.

In Anchorage, the university team is the centre of the hockey universe and although Warner won't be going home to play, he realizes he's getting an even greater opportunity.

"This is a way better education," he said.

Warner will not only be playing hockey with the Army team for the next four years but is also committed to five years of military service after completing his education.

The Smokies defenceman doesn't see any problem adapting to a military lifestyle.

"I think it'll be pretty easy. I'm a pretty straightforward kid. Getting yelled at won't bother me."

Warner visited West Point a couple of weeks ago and talked to former Smokie Pat Copeland who is a freshman at the school.

"Pat said school is hard but other than that he loves it."

Warner admitted he had some reservations about attending a military academy but during his visit he saw that the school operates much like any other school.

The Black Knights expressed interest in Warner last year when they signed Copeland. And this season, Warner has produced the results they wanted. He leads the blueliners in scoring with 25 points in 48 games.

"They said they were looking for a power play defenceman. So that means I'll be playing a lot in my freshman year."

Of course, Warner's personal success is tempered by his team's struggles.

"The team has struggled. But I've had a bigger opportunity this year being on the power play. I get a lot more chances to play which helps me overall."

And while, he's reached the goal he wanted when he arrived in Trail in 2006, Warner said his work isn't done.

"I'm not going to give up. There are still guys in that room that need deals. I'm going to give it everything I've got."

QUICK CORNER: Trail Smoke Eater defenceman Scott Warner has to make a sharp turn to avoid the forechecking of Penticton Vees' forward Cow Schneider during last week's overtime encounter at the Cominco Arena. The two teams go at it again this weekend. Tonight, Trail travels to Penticton and the two teams meet again Saturday at the Cominco Arena. Warner accepted a U.S. college scholarship to the U.S. Military Academy last week.