PHOTO: Garrett James/BCHL
On Friday, September 8th in Trail, Warriors forward Jared Marino will play in his 100th career regular season BCHL game. It will also mark the first regular season game of his captaincy in the 2017/18 season.
In this “Countdown to Warriors Hockey”, we chat with the Warriors newest captain in anticipation of the Warriors Main Camp, which culminates at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna on Monday, August 21st. In 99 career regular season games, Marino has compiled 6 goals and 29 points to go along with 68 penalty minutes but is the owner of 39 career playoff games between the BCHL, Western Canada Cup and Royal Bank Cup. The Niagara Falls, Ontario native has found a nice home in the western part of the country and will begin his third season in West Kelowna come early September.
With the potential of 12 players returning to the Warriors roster for this upcoming season, Marino likes the look of this year’s squad, “I think the group we are bringing back puts us in a great spot to start the year,” commented Marino, who is keeping his eye on the big prize, “A successful year for me would be nothing less than winning another RBC Cup with this team.”
The offseason can be a great time for players when it comes to developing strength and getting some reps in the weight room and on the ice that they might not have during the grind of a season. For Marino, it’s all about keeping busy, “I like keeping busy in the summers, training in the mornings and working at night,” stated the Warriors captain, “Being a bigger guy, I focus my offseasons on getting faster and developing more power in my legs.”
The 6’3″, 205-pound winger is one of two players (the other being Jake Harrison) that remains from the Warrior group that won it all back in 2016 with Jared’s brother, Kyle, captaining that team to the franchise’s best season yet. The Marino’s have always been close, something which Jared holds closely, “I look up to my brother everyday of my life”, said Marino, “With Kyle being such a great leader, it has taught me so much and has shaped me into the person I am today.”
Looking up to his brother does not just stop off the ice as Jared learned a thing or two from his older sibling during the Warriors championship run, “I learned a lot that year from Kyle about leadership and how hard you have to work as a captain both on and off the ice.” Although being miles apart with older brother Kyle in Alaska playing college hockey for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, the brotherly love runs deep for the Marino’s.
Jared and the rest of the Warriors are set to hit the ice at Royal LePage Place for Main Camp on Monday, August 21st before the first preseason game on Wednesday, August 23rd at 7:00 PM at RLP against the Penticton Vees, tickets are just $5.
2017/18 Warriors season are available, along with news of the brand-new Booster Club! For more information, head down to the Warriors office or contact Kim or Alex at (250) 769-7051.
The Warriors are in need of billet families for the 2017/18 season. For more information on how to join the Warriors family, contact Nicole Ellis at (250) 878-9110 or email her at nicole@westkelownawarriors.ca.
