The defending champion Kamloops grabbed a share of first place by ambushing the Vernon Sun Valley Source For Sports Tigers 11-4 in Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League play Wednesday night at Kal Tire Place.
Mack Stead pulled the hat trick for the Venom, who held period leads of 5-1 and 8-3. Both teams are 8-3.
“We didn’t show up defensively and their goalie beat us,” said Tiger head coach Chris Scabar. “We had lots of chances. I hate to lose, but we’ll put this one behind us and recover.”
Jake Pelletier scored on Vernon’s first shot, but the shortstaffed Tigers didn’t beat veteran goalie Matt Hans until almost 36 minutes later. Pelletier finished with a pair, while Jarod Reid and Chris Inscho contributed singles.
Monty Chisholm rang up two goals for the Venom before being ejected for a scrap with Thomas Mackiewich late in the second period.
Riley Peterson provided 1+3, while Midget call-up Callum Gorman pocketed 1+2 for Kamloops,who got singles from Derek Rockvam, Quinn Williamson and Colton Boomer.
Hans finished with 41 saves, while Darnell Hauca made 34 stops, including a penalty-shot save on Josh Van Unen with 33 seconds left. The shot was awarded since Vernon had too many men on the floor in the final minute.
The Tigers were without suspended Steel Pelletier and Caden Colmorgen and injured playmaker Kolten Kirschner along with rookies Tiege Doughty and Sean Howard.
“We really missed Steel,” said Scabar “We rally around him; the guys walk a little stronger when he’s out there.”
The Tigers entertain the South Okanagan Flames Saturday night and then visit the Flames Monday night in Penticton.
The Armstrong Shamrocks welcome the Kelowna Raiders tonight at Nor-Val Sports Centre. The Rocks visit Kamloops Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the North Okanagan Pee Wee #2 Legends lost 6-5 to Nicola Valley of Merritt in Sunday’s final of their home tournament.
Ben Anderson, with a deuce, Maguire Nicholson, Jace Wilson and Grady Krause handled the Legends’ offence.
Nicholson collected five goals in the Legends’ 10-5 semifinal win over the Shuswap. Austin Dunnill added four snipes and Cole Gartner had a single.
The Legends opened by stopping Shuswap 13-6 with Nicholson and Dunnill each supplying five goals, Krause getting a pair and Gartner connecting once.
Nicholson counted four goals as North Okanagan crushed Kamloops 8-2. Wilson provided two, while Anderson and Krause netted singles.
Wilson earned six goals and Krause had three in a 15-1 romp over Kelowna. Goalie Connor Johnson picked up two helpers.
