The Talon Benefits Thrashers used balanced scoring and a marvellous penalty kill to stop Winfield Bruins 5-3 in the North Okanagan Midget Super Hockey League playoff final Monday night at Priest Valley Arena.
Tanner Wright, Aiden Rivard, Mac Gilchrist, captain Jaden Steinke and Keefer Kaempf supplied goals for the Thrashers, who won the regular-season banner at 13-1-4. Winfield, who finished fourth at 9-9, got snipes from Owen Spannier, Jake Kupchanko and Coleby Mackney.
“It was a gritty, back and forth game,” said Thrasher head coach Frank Kaempf, assisted by Scott Horsfield and Curt Steinke. “Both sides worked hard for the full 60 minutes. Our defence and goaltending was strong. We played good positional hockey that made it tough for them to break to the net. A strong penalty kill saved us twice as the boys were able to fight off being shorthanded 5-on-3 twice for two minutes. It was exciting for Scott and I to watch the boys play so well and cap the season with the playoff win.”
The Thrashers and Bruins both advance to the Valley playdowns, March 17-19, in Winfield.
The Thrashers held off the Vernon Authentic Trophy & Plaque Hawks 4-1, while Winfield iced the Corbett Office Kings 5-0 in Sunday semifinals in Winfield.
Tiege Doughty scored for the fifth-place Hawks and took third star behind fellow d-man Nick Mitchell and goalie Nick Maglio, who was spectacular.
Chazz Calvert bagged a deuce as the Bruins bounced the Hawks 4-2 Thursday night in preliminary play. Kaden Doughty and Evan Winther scored for the Hawks. Aaron Larsen and Logan Shillington, into an empty net with 57 seconds to play, completed the Winfield offence.
Salmon Arm Blackburn Excavating toppled the Nedco Blazers of Vernon 6-1 in the B final Sunday at the Shaw Centre.
The Blazers ambushed last-place Lakeside Printing Sting of Salmon Arm 8-0 Saturday to punch their ticket to the consolation final. Third-year d-man Gaman Nijjar scored his first career goal, while Tyler Semeniuk (3), Aaron Jodoin, Dexter Weiten, Elias Wery and Kaylan Lawrence also converted.
The Blazers grounded Blackburn 5-3 Friday night with d-man Chapperon Chillihitzia (2), Weiten, Jodoin and Semeniuk providing goals.
Captain Tage Kineshanko compiled 6+3 as the host Lumby Stars demolished North Broadview Plumbing & Heating Saints of Salmon Arm 12-2 in Monday night’s Bantam championship at Pat Duke Memorial Arena.
Both teams qualify for the Valley tournament, March 17-19, in Lumby.
Noah Clarke garnered 2+4 for the Stars, who carry sponsorship from Great West Equipment and Green Velvet Lawn Care.
Connor Seehaver, with a deuce, Linden Catt, with 1+2, and Ty Krause also scored for Lumby. Emma Roine provided three assists in support of Parker Stadnyk.
Defensive hustle was turned in by Andrew Ranelli, Peter and Emily Romailler and Matthew Yaremcio.
The Stars took the league banner at 16-2, followed by the Saints at 13-4-1.
