Elevator race expected to have 200 athletes
Nearly 200 athletes are expected to compete in the Elevator Race by Hoodoo Adventures March 30 starting at the SS Sicamous at Okanagan Lake at 8:30 a.m. Lyndie Hill of Hoodoo Adventures said they had 150 participants as of Wednesday with registrations to be completed a day before the race. “For the third year, that’s a good number,” said Hill. “Good growth from the first year, which had 100.” Athletes have the option of competing in open, open mixed, women’s, masters, recreation, corporate or junior categories. The website, www.hoodooadventures.com, states there is a pre-race briefing on March 29 at the Penticton Ramada at 7 p.m. Registration for the event can be completed online. This year’s event will have Axel Merckx, founder of the Prospera Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan cycling event, compete. Hill said the event has more competitive people and recreation teams. Hill encourages spectators to come out as they can watch at the SS Sicamous or at the end at the Gunbarrel Saloon at Apex Mountain. Tree Brewing Co., their sponsor, is donating $1 from each beer purchased towards the South Okanagan Children’s Charity.
Coyotes out of playoffs
In Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff action, the Kamloops Storm defeated the Osoyoos Coyotes in five games. After losing the opening game 3-0 to the Coyotes, Kamloops stormed back with a 4-2 win in Game 2, 5-2 in Game 3, 4-1 in Game 4 and 6-2 at home in Game 5. The Storm took a commanding 4-0 lead on goals by Max James, Josh Rasmussen, former Penticton Vee Brock Balson and Mitch Friesen. Penticton minor hockey product Michael Crawford got the Coyotes on the scoresheet with a power-play goal. Friesen and James scored their second goals for the Storm, while Brock McDonald tallied the Coyotes final goal of the season. The Storm will now face the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, who defeated the Creston Valley Thundercats in five games. In Game 5, the Nitehawks won 6-2. The KIJHL championship begins Friday and Saturday in Kamloops. The Storm finished first overall in the league (42-9-0-1, 85 points), while the Nitehawks were fourth overall (38-10-1-3).
Penticton’s Men’s Indoor Soccer
The Penticton Men’s Indoor Soccer season ends Sunday with its final playoff round.
OK Awards Plus is taking on Rona for the championship at 11:10 a.m. in the Adidas SportsPlex, while Penticton Lock and Key and TC Auto Sales are playing in the consolation final at 10 a.m.
Prior to the final, OK Awards Plus is being awarded the Hometown Cup for best regular season team/champions after winning 13 of 21 games. The team name and players names are engraved on the base of the cup.
On March 23, Rona rolled over TC Auto Sales 12-4. After a tightly fought close first half, the TC Auto team fell unexpectedly apart in the second half. Rona had a field day attacking and outnumbering the sparse TC Auto defence and scoring practically into the open net. Only one of the two TC Auto’s penalty kicks ended up in the net by Ken Horncastle. Peter Toth missed his chance shortly before that. Every player on the Rona team got at least one point. Don Russell led the team with four goals (and one assist), Mike Beliveau had two goals and seven points, while Kevin Kothlow had three goals and two assists. Venna Veselka, Keith Johnstone and Erick Thompson added singles. For TC Auto Sales, along with Horncastle, Mike Weckel, Gord McLaren and Paul Borba each scored once.
In the other game, OK Awards Plus defeated Penticton Lock and Key 8-4. Had Lock and Key converted on half of their chances, it would have been a different result. The regular season champs did not leave it to chance and prevailed in the end. Zico Pescada once again excelled with six points (two goals and four assists) and close behind was Darren Schimpf with three goals and an assist. Charley Mayer, in only his third game of the season, scored once and had two assists on the PE Lock and Key team. Also scoring for OK Awards was Harry Higson, Eduardo Cacace and Andy Burt with a goal each. For Lock and Key, along with Mayer, Derrick Webb, Joe Kandola and Dave Hewer each scored once.
Individual award winners from the league are:
Top Scorer (Kevin Kothlow, Rona, 51 goals)
Top Point Getter (Zico Pescada, OK Awards Plus, 97 points)
Nitehawks Ice Breaker tournament
The Okanagan Nighthawks spring team is hosting the Okanagan Nighthawks Ice Breaker tournament at Memorial Arena March 28-30. Teams from Calgary, Kamloops, Kelowna and West Kelowna are playing. The first game for the Nighthawks is Friday at 2:30 p.m. against Kelowna’s Okanagan All Stars, then their second game is at 6 p.m. against the West Kelowna Knights. On Saturday at 11 a.m. the Nighthawks face the Kamloops Ice Pirates and at 4:15 p.m. take on the Calgary Havoc Gold. The bronze medal game is Sunday at 11 a.m., while the gold medal game is at 12:45 p.m. The Nighthawks have players born in 2007.
Spring Cup
Pinnacles FC will host its first tournament with the Spring Cup March 28-30. PFC head coach and executive director Ezra Cremers said it’s a competitive event used as a warmup for their district teams. There are 40 teams playing from the Okanagan, Alberta and the Lower Mainland, including nine local clubs. There are five (under-11 to 18) girls divisions and four (under-12 to 18) boys divisions. Action begins Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Kings Park 1A between PFC girls under-11 and Kelowna United Burn with final games Sunday. The first game on the boys side is under-12 action between Vernon A and KU Venom at 4:30 p.m. Friday at KP2 A, while Pinnacles FC 2003 plays the KU Gladiators also at 4:30 p.m. at KP2 B.Games will be played at Kings Park, Pen High and KVR Middle School. Find the full schedule at www.pinnaclesfc.ca.
Baseball equipment fundraiser
Wave International Baseball Academy/LABC Team Canada is having an equipment fundraiser for children of the Dominican Republic this weekend and April 5. Team Canada reps will be accepting used baseball equipment in Penticton at the Cherry Lane Mall/Save On Foods main entrance from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 28. On March 29, they will be at the Shell station on Government St. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on April 5 at the Wave Baseball Academy Open Clinic/Carmi Baseball Field from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wave International Baseball Academy/LABC Team Canada has teamed up with Beyond the Beach Children’s Foundation.
