Four Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget boys and girls hockey teams from Castlegar are competing at Provincials Championships across the province during spring break. Here’s a summary of some of the action.
PEE WEE TIER 3 – Creston, B.C.
Sunday, Mar 17 – The first game against Quesnel Thunder, according to updates from bchockey.net, was competitive with Castlegar outshooting the Thunder almost two to one. The score, however, remained 1 – 1 going into the third with good goaltending. Quesnel scored early in the frame to take the lead but Castlegar tied it up near the six minute mark. Quesnel wouldn’t be denied, though, and put in another with 3:29 left on the clock for the 3 – 2 win.
The team next plays Whitehorse Monday, Mar. 18, Burnaby Winter Club on Tuesday, Mar. 19 and has two games Wednesday, Mar. 20 against Dawson Creek and Creston. The third place and Championship games will take place on Thursday.
MIDGET TIER 3 – Port Alberni, B.C.
Sunday, Mar. 17 – There were ten goals in this battle with Victoria edging Castlegar 6 – 4. Castlegar goal-scorers were # 11 Ren Mason, # 10 Luke Ponte (PP), # 16 Edward Lindsey and # 18 Trevr Rigby.
The Tier 3 team takes on Whistler and Whitehorse on Monday, Mar. 18, Quesnel on Tuesday, Mar. 19 and then gets a rest on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are the semi-finals and final games.
BANTAM TIER 3 MALE – Dawson Creek, B.C.
Sunday, Mar. 17 – An early 7 a.m. game against Quesnel saw Castlegar take a narrow 2 – 1 loss. The Castlegar goal came from Mathew Zwick. A goal from Quesnel’s Matt Kuehn with 24 seconds on the clock secured the win for Quesnel.
A second game at 5 p.m. against Cranbrook went in favour of the Castlegar squad 4 – 1, with two goals each credited to Tanner Costa and Garret Pattersen. Costa got the first goal of the game mid-way through the first, and banged home another less than two minutes into the second. Garret Pattersen then scored two of his own on the night in the second and third periods.
The Bantam boys play Revelstoke Monday, Mar. 18, Juan de Fuca on Tuesday, Mar. 19 in hopes of moving on to the semi-finals on Wednsday, Mar. 20 and the championship game on Thursday, Mar. 21.
BANTAM A FEMALE – Vernon, B.C.
Sunday, Mar. 17- A late 8 p.m. start against host team Greater Vernon ended with each team securing a point. Vernon struck first but Castlegar’s Kendra Waterstreet answered with time winding down in the first. Castlegar then took the lead on a marker from Merissa Dawson but Vernon tied it up about a minute and a half later. Vernon took the lead late in the game and Castlegar pulled the goaltender for an extra attacker, and was able to get the tie. (scoring on the final goal was unavailable at press time).*
The girls take on Juan de Fuca Monday, Mar. 18, Tri Cities and Prince George on Tuesday, Mar. 19 to try and move into the semi-finals and championship game being contested Wednesday, Mar. 20.
* UPDATE 7:50 a.m. Monday, Mar. 18: Jessica Bonacci (unassisted) was the goal scorer in the dying moments of the Castlegar Bantam girls game who knotted the game at three to earn the team an all-important point.
