In Monday’s Minor Hockey action, in Salmon Arm, North Okanagan 1 completed a sweep of the Atom Bottom 6 playoffs with a 4-1 win over the Vernon K2 Stone Crushers.
In Vernon, in Pee Wee action, Lumby overcame a 2-0 deficit to score three third-period goals to beat Sicamous 3-2 in the Bottom 4 final game. In the Top 6 final, the Vernon Lakeside Printing Predators broke open a close game after the ice clean to defeat the Vernon Bannister GM Blazers 11-4. Landon Currie was outstanding in this game, collecting at least six points in the victory. The Predators will go on to play in the Valley Championships in Penticton this weekend.
In Lumby in Bantam play, the Salmon Arm Chevy Bruins cruised to an easy 10-3 victory over the Vernon DCT Chambers squad.
The Bantams came together in a big way Monday night. It was a little late to squeeze into the Top 5 playoff; they missed by a couple points. Who knows what could have happened otherwise. Entering the Bottom 4, they were the favourites but had to prove it. After finishing first after round-robin play, the Bruins would meet the other Salmon Arm team in the semis. The Bruins won convincingly, 11-3.
Onto Lumby Monday night to play Vernon in the finals, Salmon Arm showed up ready to play. After squeezing past Vernon in the round robin, this was a rout, 10 to 3. Eddie O’Dell was huge with three goals and four assists. Cody Stepura scored three also and Chris Kovacs scored a pair with an assist as did Daniel Atsma. Adding assists on the rest of the scoring were Austin Rawnsley, Reid Seeley, Cole Swetlikoe, Lewis Golding and Lenny DePatie. Great goaltending by Adam New kept Salmon Arm’s momentum rolling. The Bantams host their home tournament this coming weekend.
In the Top 5 final, the Vernon Velocity also won a lopsided game in an 8-2 victory. The Velocity will join the host Lumby team and play in the Valley Championships in Vernon and Lumby this coming weekend.
Back in Vernon, the Vernon Nedco Titans jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the ice clean and cruised to a 5-2 victory at the Wesbild Centre. The Titans will play in the Valley Championships in Penticton this weekend.
In Winfield, the Salmon Arm Blackburn Excavating defeated the Vernon Corbett’s Cowboys 4-2.
Tuesday night in Salmon Arm the host Salmon Arm Saints played the Lumby Stars in the Atom Top 6 final game (after press time). Both teams will go on to play in the Valley Championships in Vernon and Lumby this coming weekend.
