The Vernon Buy-Low Vixens are a fun-seeking bunch of ladies who know how to win hockey games.
After claiming the Armstrong Safe Hockey League regular-season title at 18-2, the Vixens took the playoff title last weekend at Nor-Val Sports Centre.
There were eight women’s teams from Vernon, Armstrong and Salmon Arm in the second-year league.
The Vixens were bolstered this season by UBC Thunderbird grads Kelsey Halvorson and Kelsey Kirkham and young Vernon Rep players Cassie Bosworth and Morgan Zoethout.
Vernon newbie Amy Irvine also joined the Buy Low gals, while super sniper Leah Mulvihill missed the first half of the season after having her first baby and ended up fifth in Vixen scoring.
Christine Bosworth, Bernie Dwan, Jen Spitzer, Jodi Tung, Diana Huntley, Patti Hansen, Christine Sherman, Michelle Embleton, Brandy Weismann, Edeen Ramsey have been with the team since it started in 2003.
“Initiating the rookies has been a large part of the team’s off-ice antics this season,” said Christine Bosworth, a smooth-skating d-man. “With so many newcomers this year, cars have been Saran wrapped, whipped cream has been found in shoes, one player found herself alone on the ice in the middle of a game with all her teammates waving at her from the bench, and a couple gals who refused to wear the ugly Vixen socks (total trademark of the Vixens) found their old socks burnt in a heap in the parking lot. This team exemplifies every part of what it means to be a team on and off the ice.”
The Vixens have two mother/daughter pairs playing together. Bernie Dwan and her daughter Mandy Christensen have been playing together for a few years now and Cassie Bosworth joined her mom Christine for her first year.
Buy-Low ambushed the Shuswap Storm 8-1 in Sunday’s final with Mulvihill pulling the hat trick and Zoethout scoring twice, including one shorthanded.
Kirkham, Bernie Dwan and Halvorson supplied singles, while assists from Cassie Bosworth and Tung.
Kirkham counted four goals as the Vixens rocked the third-place Salmon Arm Wildfire 7-2. Halvorson (2) and Coralee Hamilton completed the offence with Cheryl Meier earning two assists.
In Game 2, the Vixens shut down the second-place Shuswap Storm 7-0 with Patti Hansen recording the shutout.
Halvorson (3), Bernie Dwan, Ramsey, Zoethout and Kirkham provided the offence. Mandy Christensen and Nichole Oakden had helpers.
The Vixens are now eligible for the regional championships May 4-6, in Burnaby, and are off to Nelson for a tournament this weekend.
“It will be the toughest competition we will face all season,” aid Christine Bosworth. “We are going back hoping to defend our title.”
