Morning Star Staff
The Vernon Sladen Moore Lakers ended the B.C. Pee Wee AAA Female Hockey Championships at Minoru Park Arena in Richmond with smiles all around.
The Lakers, the only Vernon minor hockey team in a provincial tournament, brushed back the Vancouver Island Royals 5-1 to finish fifth at 2-4 in the seven-team pack. The Royals and Prince George Cougars both went 1-5.
“It was disappointing in that we played well enough to win in a couple of earlier losses, but we finished the season off with a win and that was our goal today,” said Lakers’ head coach Arne Head.
Andi Kaneda (2), Jenna Fletcher, Makenna Hoffman and Carly Southam handled the Laker offence.
The Surrey Falcons and the North Shore Avalanche met in Thursday’s final.
Tuesday’s second game was similar to the first morning game (3-1 loss against Richmond) as the Lakers bowed 6-2 to the Rossland-Trail Wildcats. The Lakers outshot the Wildcats 33-18.
The Lakers pressed hard and got an early goal in the second from Fletcher on a nice rush after getting a beauty breakout pass from d-man Makenna Southam.
In the third period, Kaneda top-shelved a loose puck off a scramble in front of Wildcat goaltender Sydney Carter, who was picked up from the Kamloops team due to injury. The Lakers kept pressing and had another Kaneda goal disallowed when the puck was in and out so fast it went undetected.
“The girls battled hard and never gave up despite the adversity,” said assistant coach Keith Tucker. “It was an emotional day after playing so well and having not been rewarded for their efforts, and realizing the possibility of playing in the championship game had slipped away. Kaneda and Tylee Cooper shared the team heart and hustle award for the Kootenay game.”
The Lakers, however, regrouped for Wednesday morning’s game against the top-ranked Surrey Falcons. Determined to avenge a home tourney final loss to Surrey, the Lakers played another inspired game but lost 2-0. Samantha Head bounced back from a tough game Tuesday with a stellar effort, robbing Falcon sniper Alicia Perez on two breakaways, and was named the Laker heart and hustle recipient.
