North Okanagan Kingfishers were hot at the 05 Kelowna Heat Spring Hockey Jamboree March 28-30.
The Heat went 4-0, capping things off Sunday with a 9-7 win over the West Kelowna Knights in the final.
Brayden Schwaerzle led the way with a five-goal performance while Deagan McMillan added a pair. Taryk Filipuzzi and Bryden Murray chipped in with singles and Colton Colmorgan earned his fourth win in as many starts.
“The kids improved each game and did a great job battling through adversity,” said Kingfishers head coach Tim Milne. “The West Kelowna games were tough but it was a great way to get our season started.”
The Kingfishers, comprised of players born in 2005 from Vernon, Armstrong, Salmon Arm and Revelstoke, opened the tournament on Friday with a 4-1 victory over the Kelowna Heat.
Schwaerzle led the way with two goals and an assist while McMillan and Filipuzzi chipped in with singles. Zac Milne added an assist and played a strong defensive game. Colmorgan was stellar in goal.
On Saturday, the Kingfishers defeated Prince George 12-2. Murray led the winners with a hat trick while McMillan and Thomas Macdonald each added two goals. Singles were recorded by Zack Casagrande, Cosmo Wilson, Riley Cormier and Schwaerzle. Theo Van Wyk added four assists while Colmorgan backstopped the win.
Saturday evening, the Kingfishers spotted West Kelowna Knights a 3-0 lead before storming back with a five-goal second period and eventually taking the contest 8-5.
Zac Milne and Filipuzzi led the Kings with two goals each while JJ Milne, Schwaerzle, Murray and McMillan added singles.
Excellent tournaments were also turned in by Vernon’s Brady Kuziw, Logan Killingbeck and Teagan Evans.
The Kingfishers are next in action at the West Kelowna Knights Roundtable Challenge April 11-13.
n Lavington’s Lisa Campeau and Lake Country’s Hunter Joseph hope to propel the Okanagan Rockets to the B.C. AAA female midget hockey championship.
The Rockets face the Fraser Valley Phantom in the best-of-three provincial final today, Saturday and, if needed, Sunday in Langley.
n The B.C. champion Okanagan Rockets visit Alberta’s best, the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs, in the best-of-three Pacific major midget hockey series.
Okanagan captain Brandon Wagner has signed with the Vernon Vipers for next season.
All three games, if necessary, will be played in Red Deer beginning tonight.
The winner advances to the Telus Cup national midget championships in Moose Jaw April 21-27.
