Blaine Caton collected a first-period hat trick as the Vernon Home Building Centre Vipers cruised to a 6-1 win over the Fort St. John Trackers in Midget Tier 1 hockey tournament action Friday night at Civic Arena.
Vernon powered their way to a 5-0 first-period lead, with other offence coming from Logan Geefs, with a goal and four assists, and singles from Travis Churchill and Austin Garrington.
Chad Thomas supplied a pair of helpers, and Jacob Dolinar and Richard Meaney each had up one. Netminder Bruin Stair was named the game MVP.
In Midget Tier 3 play, Carson Tucker netted the winner on a feed from Dustin Copeland with 3:27 to play as the Vernon Coca-Cola Vipers iced the Wenatchee Wild 4-3 in their opening game of the Abbotsford Memorial Tournament Friday night.
Jordan Rea opened the scoring for the Vipers with an assist to Hayden Chase. Graham Jones made it 2-0 with assists to Scott Latwat and Zach Manton.
Wenatchee scored three unanswered goals to take the lead, but Chase went end to end to tie the game 3-3. Liam McOnie was strong in the net.
The Source For Sports Renegades opened the Penticton Bantam Tier 1 tourney with a pair of impressive wins. After doubling Campbell River 4-2 in their Friday opener, the Renegades outgunned Langley 6-4 early Saturday.
Jagger Williamson tapped in his own rebound to open Vernon’s account against Campbell River.
Tied 1-1 after one, Reed Cashato converted early in second on pass from Matt Kowalski. Gage Kopp pocketed the winner on the powerplay in third period, and Eamonn Miller provided some relief with an empty-netter.
Harvey Pawsey delivered the hit of the game, and Josh Evans recorded 24 saves for the win.
With Kieran Watts in net against Langley, the Renegades dominated the first period, but fell behind 2-0 in the second frame.
Williamson won a draw back to Nick Higgs, who rocketed a point shot past the Langley tender for Vernon’s first goal. Shortly after Langley had made it 3-1, Higgs set up Josh Decoffe for Vernon’s second strike.
Pawsey scored on a powerplay to tie it 3-3, and Decoffe, from Miller, gave the Renegades the go-ahead goal.
Jarett Campbell, from Kaden Black, followed by a Williamson empty-netter with two seconds to play, sealed the win.
“It was one of our most complete games to date,” said head coach Jim Armstrong.
The Nixon Wenger Rattlers dropped their opening game of the Winfield Pee Wee Tier 3 tournament, falling 5-1 to Kelowna Friday night.
Gavin Fleck supplied the Rattlers’ lone goal, and Aiden Rysen earning game MVP.
Vernon rebounded Saturday morning, upsetting tournament favourite Burnaby Bulldogs 4-2 in a high-tempo battle. Game MVP Caden Colmorgen stopped 35 shots.
Kayden Beauregard opened the scoring from Fleck and Tanner Wright. Fleck notched a goal from Eric Noren, and Noren scored an unassisted tally to take the lead. Lucas Halvorson put in the insurance goal shorthanded to round out the scoring.
The Vernon H&L Glass Wolfpack opened the Kamloops Remembrance Day Classic Atom Development Tournament with a 11-3 thrashing of Kelowna #2.
The Pack started slowly but found their stride in the second period and never looked back. Vernon was led by a hat trick from Trevor Kennedy and two-goal performances from Logan Chapdelaine, Ben King and game MVP Tanner Brown. Singles came from hard working Lucas Zubrod and Steel Quiring.
Chipping in with assists were Anne Cherkowski, Ben Imrich and Jacob Green. Jaxxon Collard skated hard all game to win the Heart and Hustle award.
