Following a strong showing in pool play, Port Hardy Team 2 settled for fifth place in the annual Port Hardy Minor Hockey Association bantam tournament Sunday with a 10-2 playoff loss to the Campbell River Bears at Cruickshank Memorial Arena.
A large turnout at the bantam level this season prompted the host club to split into two teams for last weekend’s seven-team tournament. But, thanks in large part to the play of goalie Troy Caldwell, Team 2 was competitive throughout the round-robin session, dropping three games by a grand total of five goals and not allowing more than four goals until the final.
Dennis Parsey and Liam Ryan scored for Port Hardy in the final, while Parsey, Kayla MacDonald, Terri McLaughlin and Mason Irvine each had assists.
Port McNeill overcame another strong goaltending performance from Port Hardy’s Alex Howard to post a 3-1 win over Port Hardy Team 1 in the sixth-place game. Despite his team being badly outshot, Howard kept the Whalers off the scoreboard for more than 34 minutes until Petra Sinclair, Kevin Nurmi and Corey Hamilton scored third-period goals for Port McNeill.
Kody Paul briefly drew Port Hardy 1 into a 1-1 tie when he converted off an assist from Cory Pearson at 6:29 of the third.
Kolby Beattie was the winner in goal for Port McNeill, which got assists from Jessica Hilts and Zach Cameron.
The Oceanside Bulldogs went undefeated and took the tourney title with a 6-1 championship-game win over the Campbell River Cougars. Nanaimo placed third.
