The 2002 Okanagan All-Stars stopped the Kootenay Avalanche 5-2 in Sunday’s final of the third annual Osoyoos Desert Classic Spring Hockey Tournament.
Vernon’s Ben King, Anne Cherkowski and Lochlan O’Keefe, played for the All-Stars, who came from behind to stop the Lower Mainland 8-6 in the semifinals.
The Okanagan crew trailed 5-2 to the Coastal side with 10 minutes remaining.
The final was tight until late in the third period when the better conditioned Team Okanagan scored three quick goals.
The North Okanagan Kingfishers held off the Kelowna Heat 4-2 in 2005 spring hockey play Saturday in Winfield.
JJ Milne paced the Kings with a hat trick and Erik Pastro added the single. Zack Casagrande, Seth Burton and Zac Milne chipped in with assists.
Team defence was strong in front of goaltenders Logan Killingbeck and Austin Seibel.
“The kids skated hard and our forecheck was much improved,” said Kingfisher head coach Tim Milne. “We’re doing our best to get game-ready for the Spring tournament season.”
The Kingfishers, comprising players from Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby and Salmon Arm, head to Kamloops this weekend for the AAA Pirate Challenge.
