Talon Benefits flexed their offence in a pair of North Okanagan Midget Super Hockey League victories on opening weekend.
Kristian Currie pulled the hat trick and Dallas Zupp added 2+5 as the Talon crew stopped the Vernon Authentic Plaque and Trophy Tropics 8-6 Saturday at Wesbild Centre.
Jake Brodoway (1+2), Bradlee Jones and Layne Greene completed the Talon offence. Travis Webster (2), Russell Hickman, Brad Jones, Logan Revell and Rowyn Lewis-Hatherly replied for the Tropics.
The Talon boys lassoed the Corbett Office Supply Cowboys 10-6 in their season opener at Wesbild with Brenden Zupp earning 4+2 and Bradlee Jones 1+6.
Brodoway, Aaron Kerryluke, Adam Tyk, Currie and Gavin Opp also scored for Talon, who got four helpers from Greene. Clayton Coles was in net for both wins.
Captain Dustin Folliott pulled the hat trick for the Cowboys, while Reiker Krenz (2) and Scott Latwat also scored. Nat Wilson had two helpers.
The Cowboys bounced back by grounding the Winfield #2 Bruins 4-1 Sunday in Lake Country.
Nathan Meyer scored on a booming point shot, with assists to Justin Ramsey and Jeremy Clark, for the Cowboys’ first goal. It was 1-1 at the ice clean, and with 28 seconds left in the second period, Folliott took a bullet stretch pass from Meyer and scored the winner.
Ben James scored on a feed by Nik Wasylyk and Ramsey converted an Adam Michelin, pass, for insurance.
“I like what I see after the first two games of the season,” said Corbett Office head coach Dan Wilson. “The Cowboys are a hard-working bunch with plenty of all-around potential.”
The Tropics crowned the North Okanagan Knights 7-5 Sunday at Civic Arena with Hickman supplying 2+2, Brock Wagner adding 1+3 and singles also going to Russel Negraiff, Webster, Jones and Cameron Strike.
In other Midget Super League action, Kyle Weston supplied 2+2 and goalie Tyrel Hattori was sensational as the Lumby Stars stopped the Nedco Titans 7-3 at Pat Duke Memorial Arena.
Brad Haslam added 2+1 for the Stars, who got 1+2 from Kelsey Major and other goals from Calvin Tourand and Corey Tinney. Lumby led 6-0 before the Stars could solve Hattori.
Mark Francis pulled the hat trick for the Titans, who peppered Hattori while dominating the first period.
The Winfield Bruins bounced the Vernon Flyers 7-5 in a highly physical North Okanagan Bantam Super Hockey League battle Saturday.
Landon Munk scored four goals for the Flyers, with Nickolai Negraiff adding a single. Tim Ufimtseff and Logan Imrich had strong games.
In Sunday play, the Flyers bowed 5-4 to DCT Chambers Trucking at Civic Arena.
Munk (2), Brett Lambert and Connor Granger handled the Flyers’ offence. Layk Petersen was solid on defence. Corey Lehoux earned both wins.
Sean Howard and Braeden Cooper each scored twice as the Stevenson Mechanical Blues bounced the Salmon Arm Warriors in Pee Wee action Sunday afternoon at Priest Valley Arena.
Howard, named first star for his strong two-way showing, hit an empty net with 80 seconds remaining. Cooper – second star – opened the scoring by going top shelf on a breakaway early in the second period.
Nick Mitchell went roof daddy from the slot to complete the Blues’ offence in front of third star Riley Bos, who stopped a penalty shot.
The Butcher Boys Red Wings defeated the Vernon Seed Orchard Sharks 4-0 in other Pee Wee Super League action.
The Sharks all-girls team ruled the first period by blasting several shots at Red Wing goalie Dylan Blazek. Brooke Berube, Taylor DaSilva and Cailee Bauml forechecked relentlessly to no avail.
Jake Pelletier opened the scoring on a breakaway, putting a hard wrister to the far side of the net past Bailey Berndt.
Taylor Cousins and Chelsea McCaig played strong on the defensive end and Brittany Jackson missed a great chance just over the cross bar. Halle Higgins-Wilson scored to shift the game in the Red Wings’ favour.
Speedy Dakota Becker added another goal in the third and Pelletier sniped his second of the night with five minutes remaining. Blazek shared the shutout with Reece Hawthorne.
