After a successful year playing with the Cariboo Cougars, former Quesnel Thunder player, Jesse Roach has been named to the B.C. Major-Midget all star game, Jan. 17 in Langley.
"It's pretty exciting," Roach said.
"All the players are good players."
The tournament pits two teams, made up of the top 42 players drawn from the best of the B.C. Major Midget league, against each other to showcase the talent in the league.
The teams are decided by chance and as such, Roach, who will play for team blue, will have to play against team mates Bryan Allbee and Steven Jandric, who were also chosen to play in the game but were put on team white.
Roach, who is a rookie in the league, has had his eye on the tournament since he started with the Cougars.
"It was a goal I set at the start of the league," he said.
The game promises to be a great experience for Roach, who will have new team mates and new coaches to learn from.
Though he hasn't played alongside any of his temporary team mates, he said he knows the players from playing against them and is confident the team will gel quickly once they start playing together.
"I just want to enjoy the experience and see what happens," said Roach.
His first year with the league, Roach hit the ice at full speed.
He said his efforts trying out for the WHL's Vancouver Giants helped him prepare for the season.
His time with the Cougars had been good for him.
"I fell like I've got my game up to another level," he said.
With experience from the all star game and his time with the Cariboo Cougars, Roach has set his sights on the Vancouver Giants once again, hoping to make it into the WHL and one step closer to the big leagues.
Roach leads the Cariboo Cougars in scoring, with 37 points from 15 goals and 22 assists.
Those numbers are also good enough to sit him, quite comfortably, in the league’s top ten, slotting in at seventh.
The 6’4”, 191 lb forward also has his fair share of penalty minutes, at 42.
Roach was named player of the month for the Cougars for December and was runner up BCMML player of the month.
The Cariboo Cougars currently sit seventh in the league, with a record of 11-15-2.
Roach is back in action with the Cougars Jan. 25 in Prince George, playing the Kamloops Blazers.