The Vernon Sun Valley Sports Tigers had trouble finding offence in the 12th annual Archie Jack Memorial IceBreaker Tournament Saturday at Nor-Val Sports Centre in Armstrong.
All five Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League teams played twice with the Tigers falling 9-5 to the Armstrong Shamrocks in the morning and losing 8-2 to the South Okanagan Flames in the afternoon. Games consisted of three 20-minute running-time periods.
The Shamrocks got two goals from Chase Bronson to dispatch the Tigers. Marlon Forrest supplied 1+3 for the Irish, while other goals came from Nik Luttmerding, Tyson Chartier, Carter Olsen-Stiles, Stefan Wells, Sam Hanley and Dakota Campen.
Vernon got snipes from Steele Pelletier (2), Jordy Barr, Brett Olsen and Chris Inscho. Armstrong held period leads of 3-2 and 6-4.
Last year’s Top Rookie, Jake Pelletier, and current rookie Thomas Mackiewich were involved in heated scraps which according to IceBreaker rules meant they got to enjoy the rest of the weekend in the stands. Inscho was dynamic defensively.
Pelletier and Midget call-up Caden Colmorgen converted against the Flames, who enjoyed period leads of 2-1 and 5-2. Darien Ottesen was aggressive on both ends of the floor for the Tigers. No other scores were available.
The Tigers open the regular season Saturday night in Kamloops against the defending champion Venom. Armstrong hosts the Flames in their first tilt Friday night.
The North Okanagan Legends Shepherds Home Hardware Novice #1 team opened their season by splitting a pair with the Penticton Heat, winning 7-3 after falling 5-4, and then clipping the Shuswap Outlaws.
The Legends overcame a slow start and lassoed the Outlaws through some great goaltending from Taylor Swanson, who withstood a barrage of shots in the last three minutes while the Legends were a man short.
Tyrell Palm had the corners dialed in as he scored five goals. David Calder added one goal.
Asher Kuiken, Calder, Sam Danford and Palm provided snipes in the loss to Penticton with Swanson solid in goal.
In the re-match, the Legends hustled after every loose ball and played a smothering defence led by the twin attack of Spencer Catlin and Khrystian Catlin. Danford pulled the hat trick, while Calder, with a deuce, Palm and Calder Barry supplied the other goals in front of a stellar Swanson.
