ALERT BAY—The host community kept the two big trophies at home Sunday with wins in the men’s and women’s finals of the annual June Sports soccer tournament.
But they achieved the accomplishment in very different fashions.
The Alert Bay Cormorants outlasted Cowichan in a marathon men’s final that wasn’t finished until two, 10-minute overtimes and a shootout were completed.
Cormorants goalkeeper Dustin Price stopped every penalty kick in the shootout to preserve the win for the hosts.
The Alert Bay Thunderettes, on the other hand, rolled to a relatively comfortable 5-1 win over the Port McNeill Lightning in the ladies’ final behind goals from Shadow Alfred (2), Jolene Nagy, Trish Nolie and Alicia Such.
The Thunderettes used three straight goals early in the second half to break open what had been a close contest and pull away to the win.
The championship games wrapped up four days of frivolity, food and football on Cormorant Island, which kicked off with the annual Salmon Prince and Princess Festival Thursday evening.
Stephen Alfred and Janine Forbister were named prince and princess, respectively, and presided over the rest of the weekend’s activities, including Friday’s June Sports parade, Saturday’s kids soccer and races and Sunday’s finals.
The men’s and women’s championships were preceded Sunday by the ever-popular Legends game, pitting mostly 55-over footballers who grew up with the tournament, now in its 50th year.
When the teams huffed and puffed their way to the final whistle, stadium announcer Billy Wasden quipped, “And that’s your final, folks, with the old guys 1 and the old guys zero.”
Youth titles went to Port Hardy’s North Island Rush (U15); Alert Bay’s Junior Breakers (U12); Port McNeill (U10) and Alert Bay 1 (U7).
