Bantam C hockey teams from the Island and Lower Mainland battled for supremacy in a two-day tournament at Fuller Lake and Island Savings Centre Arenas Jan. 6-7.
“Everyone had a great weekend of hockey and it was a great way to kick off 2018,” noted Rebecca McKenzie of the organizing committee.
The host Cowichan Valley Bantam C Capitals had their hands full with the high level of the competition, but gave it their all and didn’t go down in any game without a fight.
The Peninsula C1 Eagles were the winners of Pool A and went home with gold medals after defeating the winners of Pool B, the Juan de Fuca C1 Grizzlies, 3-2 in a shoot out. The C1 Grizzlies received silver medals.
The bronze medal finishers were the Campbell River C2 Chiefs. They won their final game 7-5 against the Victoria Ice Hawks, who settled for fourth overall.
The Juan de Fuca C2 Grizzlies placed fifth and relegated Squamish to sixth by winning a close game between the two teams 3-1.
The Cowichan Valley C2 Capitals faced the Peninsula C2 Eagles in their final game at the Island Savings Centre. It went down to the wire, with the Eagles winning in a shootout for seventh place and putting the Caps in eighth.
Eli Caine of Cowichan Valley scored the first goal of the game, with an assist from Brendan Maloney. The Caps dominated the rest of the first period and Cowichan goalie, Braeden McKenzie, worked hard to keep a shutout during the period.
The Eagles managed to score two quick goals near the end of the second period and added another early in the third.
But the Caps made a quick turnaround when Kayden Godefroy scored on assists from Caine and Maloney and the team’s fans went wild as Easton Iverson tied it on an unassisted goal with only 13 seconds left to play.
The comeback fell short, however, as the Eagles took the decision in a shootout 4-3.
It was such a positive experience for the Caps, they’re likely to host the tournament again next year.
