After two complete seasons as a Cariboo Cougar, the team's leading scorer through the 2011-2012 season is making the jump to Junior A as Eli Jarvis aims to carry his scoring touch to his new team in the BCHL's Cowichan Valley Capitals.

The 17-year old forward put up 23 goals and 32 assists in 39 games last season to lead the Cougars in points.  That, along with a strong performance at spring camp, caught the eye of Cowichan Head Coach and General Manager Jim Ingram.

"He was so persistent, so hungry to have the puck on his stick," said Ingram.  "He made the guys better around him, he never gave up on pucks, he went to the tough areas.  Eli will be a scorer we feel at this level but it's going to take him some time to figure out how to make those little adjustments to his game at the BC League level."

Jarvis is making the jump to Junior A along with teammate Hayden-James Berra.  Like Berra, he knows he's ready for the next level in his playing career but also realizes there's a lot of work ahead.

"Playing two years in Major Midget with (Trevor) Sprague, he really prepared me for Junior A.  It's a big step but it's up to me on what I want to do with it and how I prepare for it," said Jarvis.

The Quesnel product liked what he saw from the Capitals during spring camp and feels the transition will be made easier by the quality organization he's headed to.

 "I think I'll have a good chance on having a great year because it'll be a yougner team.  I just think it's a great organization with a great coach, I got to meet a few guys there, I think it'll be a lot of fun this year."

While playing out of town the past two years in Prince George, the move to Duncan is much farther from his hometown, but he says it's all part of growing up doing what he loves to do.

"That's all part of the game and that's what you got to do to make the sacrifice to play hockey, and it's all worth it in the end."

Hayden-James Berra is known for his hard work, determination, and persistence, and that's exactly what has brought him to the next level in his hockey career, committed to by the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BC Hockey League.

The Capitals committed to Berra along with fellow Cariboo Cougar teammate Eli Jarvis, after being impressed by his grit and work ethic at spring camp in April.  What Cowichan Head Coach and General Manager Jim Ingram saw is exactly what he wants to build around with what will be a young, very different looking team than fans on the Island saw last season.

"Hayden-James I think really embodies what we're trying to get accomplished in Cowichan, and that's the establishment or the ground floor for playing for us, a strong, strong work ethic," said Ingram.

While the Capitals were impressed with Berra, the 17-year old from Prince George was equally impressed by the hockey club.

"It's really exciting, they're a great organization, they got a great group of guys.  Jim Ingram's an awesome coach and an awesome guy and attending their spring camp was one of the best decisions I made and I'm really happy that I did," said Berra.

In his first and only full season with the Cougars, Berra notched 18 goals, 15 assists, and 21 PIMS in 34 games.  Being a point-per-game player in Major Midget was the result of his consistent effort every shift, and Berra knows that hard work never ends as he gears up his off-season training ahead of Cowichan's main camp in August.

"I'll follow the Cowichan plan for sure, and follow some of the training from my dad (Renzo) who trains me, and just give it my best this summer just to come into camp really in shape and really ready to tackle the season early on."

The move to Duncan will also signal a big step personally for Berra who has been able to play his entire minor hockey career in his hometown.  But it too is something he's embracing with open arms.

"After minor hockey ends for a player if you do want to continue and if you do get the opportunity to continue you have to seize the opporutnies, and Cowichan felt that they were ready to give me a shot this year and let me know early on and I was grateful for that and that's why I took it.  It's a new beginning and it's a new challenge that it's going to pose for me and living away is going to make me that much more of a person and a player and I'm really looking forward to it."

Berra is celebrating his high school graduation this weekend marking another chapter in his life away from the rink.  But the one constant Berra carries with him wherever he goes is his focus, maturity, and commitment to always give his best, the type of character Ingram and the Capitals are looking for next season.

"They needed a hard working guy, and that's what they're going to get."

BC Hockey has confirmed the dates for this summer's Major Midget try-out camps which will take place simultaneously across the province for all 11 teams for the 2012-2013 season.

The Cariboo Cougars, along with the rest of the league, will host an evaluation camp August 9-12, 2012.  Precise times and locations will be announced at a later date and registration will be available as of May 30th.

The final 20-member team roster must be submitted to BC Hockey by September 15, 2012.

Check back here for further information in the coming weeks and for more information on BCMML, visit www.bcmml.net.

Another Cariboo Cougar is off to a Junior A club this fall as Nathan Craft has committed to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BC Hockey League.

Craft led the Cats in goals this past season with 27 while adding 21 assists for 48 points and 103 PIMS in 35 games, his second season as a Cougar.  The Bulldogs had their eye on the 17-year old for much of the past season, and Craft's consistent production impressed enough to be given a commitment out of spring camp.

"They like my hardwork style of play.  When they did commit to me they asked me where they saw me fitting in the lineup and I just said I wanted to be offensive, but just keep working hard," said Craft.

After two years of playing in Prince George with the Cougars, Craft, who calls Kitimat home, is eagerly anticipating the next step in his hockey career in a place, not unlike his hometown, that loves its hockey.

"They have a great crowd base, a great community, a great organization.  They all seem to get behind the Bulldogs there and it seems like a great place to play."

While glad to receive the commitment this early in the year, Craft knows there's plenty of hard work ahead before the puck drops on the next hockey season.

"I just hope to contribute as much as I can to the Bulldogs and just have a good, successful season all around."

Congratulations Nathan!