BC Hockey announced Friday, February 20 that Jordan Bellerive (North Vancouver) will serve as captain of Team BC at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, BC.  In addition, Justin Almeida (Kitimat), Michael Rasmussen (Surrey), and Jake Harrison (West Kelowna) will serve as alternate captains.

Said Team BC head coach Jim Dinwoodie, “While these four (4) players are wearing the letters, this team has a strong group of natural leaders that will step up to contribute to the team’s success. We’re looking forward to playing on a national stage in Prince George and competing for gold in our home province.”

Bellerive, a Hollyburn Minor Hockey Association and North Shore Winter Club alumni, currently plays at the Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) where he has 49 goals and 23 assists for a total of 72 points in just 45 games in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). He has also been affiliated by the British Columbia Hockey League’s Penticton Vees.

Harrison, a defenseman, has played for the Pursuit of Excellence hockey academy since the 2012-2013 season. Almeida won the Western Canadian Bantam AAA Championship in 2013-2014 with the North Shore Winter Club, and currently plays with the Cariboo Cougars of the BCMML. Rasmussen plays for OHA alongside Bellerive, and has affiliated with both the Penticton Vees and Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League this season.

Past Team BC captains have included players such as Curtis Lazar (Vernon), Joe Hicketts (Kamloops), and Griffin Reinhart (West Vancouver). Team BC is looking for back-to-back gold medals at this year’s Canada Winter Games.  In 2011, Team BC captured gold at the games with a 7 – 4 win over Team Québec in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Last year, Team BC competed at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, bringing home the silver from Calgary, Alberta.

The Canada Winter Games takes place every four (4) years and features the highest rated players in the U16 age category representing every province and territory.  The 2011 Team BC included future NHL players Curtis Lazar (Ottawa Senators - Vernon), Nic Petan (Winnipeg Jets - Delta) and Sam Reinhart (Buffalo Sabres - West Vancouver). 

Team BC will compete in the second week of the Canada Winter Games.  The competition will begin on February 22, 2015 culminating into the Gold Medal Game on March 1, 2015.

For more information about BC Hockey’s Male High Performance programs, please visit the BC Hockey website at www.bchockey.net or email info@bchockey.net.