Morning Star Staff
Ashleigh Cohen fired a pair of goals, including the winner, as the Vernon Raid bounced the Kelowna Kibosh 4-2 in Belle ringette play Sunday at Priest Valley Arena.
The Kibosh started strong and got an early goal from Victoria Weaver before the Raid replied with a one by Bailey Willamson on a nice feed from Shelby Fisher.
The Raid fell behind 2-1 early in the second period, but responded well to an inspired pep talk from veteran coach Tim Jones during an injury timeout, and tied the game 20 seconds later on Cohen’s first goal of the game. Dayce Knopf set Cohen up for her second with a great no-look pass, and hard-working Anastasia Pelletier finished the scoring, from Taylor Gray.
In exhibition play, the Vernon Junior A Adrenaline Rush used a terrific passing game to ambush the Salmon Arm Belles 13-1.
Vernon got three goals apiece from Shelby Connors (2A), Alyssa Racine (1A) and Alex Drury, and a deuce from Emma Carter (2A). Adding singles were Emily Williams and Aly Carter, while Kendra Ostafie set up four goals.
In Tween A action, Caenan Wisse, on loan to Salmon Arm, stoned his own team as Vernon fell 10-6 to Salmon Arm.
Courtney Bacon led Vernon with three goals, singles coming from Julie Francis, Alyssa Carter and Abby Williamson. Grace Cornell and Emma Lochead each chipped in with two assists.
Hannah McMorran supplied a pair of goals as the Vernon Voltage fell 10-6 to Shuswap in Petite play Sunday in Salmon Arm.
Shaila Austin, Sierra Lochhead, Tristan DeWitt and Rhys Taylor-Hawes, with her first of the season, completed the Voltage attack. Tara Charlton and Astrid Beaty turned in strong defensive performances.
In other Petite play, Kaila Summerfelt was stellar in net as the Vernon Flare iced Kelowna 5-2.
Kristin Ho sniped four goals and Ashley Wadsworth had the other. Wadsworth, Brynn Korol, Samantha Shaw and Alassa Johnson also earned helpers, while Chloe Scaber, Abby Sveistrup and Brooklyn Tardiff kept the pressure on Kelowna.
The Vernon Ice Breakers capped a two-win Novice weekend by stuffing Salmon Arm 13-3.
Jordan Tung held strong in net, supported by defencemen Amelia Johnson and Ally Petty.
Makenna Jackson, who finished with a hat trick, opened the scoring early and had offensive help from linemate Sadie Christensen (2+2). Zion White and Kristin Francks, both with hat tricks, while Kennedy Jackson (2+3) and Sophia Bilodeau (2+2), with her first goals of the season, chipped in offensively. Taylor Hewitt and Johnson collected assists.
In an all-Vernon barn burner Saturday at PV, the Icebreakers squeaked out a 9-8 win over the previously unbeaten Strikers.
Johnson jumpstarted the Breakers’ offence before the Strikers responded with snipes from Sydney Lewis, going top-shelf, and Aimee Skinner. The Ice Breakers pulled even on a goal by Francks, but Skinner scored again with 6:24 left in the period.
The Ice Breakers went on a three-goal run before the half thanks to a solid steal by Bilodeau and a marvellous pass to Jackson.
Tung started the second half in the Breakers’ crease, and the teams kept going back and forth. The Strikers got offence from Teagan Schober, scoring on a low shot off a rush, Lewis, Brianna Visser and Alecia Hughes.
Jackson recorded the eventual winner with a laser over the Striker keeper’s shoulder.
Ice Breakers’ game MVP went to Kennedy Jackson, who dominated on defence with strong skating and great ring control.
Vernon won its Bunny season opener by outgunning Kelowna 10-2 Saturday at the Capital News Centre. Vernon, coached by Dawn Ponich, got hat-trick performances from Rhys Leibel and Natasha Vienneau, two goals from Devyn Hildebrand and singles by Lucia Manton and Rory Lang.
