By K.A. Pendergast
Last weekend held some fast-paced intense action with the Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association midget regional playoffs.
The tournament consisted of teams from Clearwater, South Okanagan, Salmon Arm and Winfield. The format was a round-robin style with all teams playing each other and then the two top teams in a final playoff for first place and moving on to the provincials.
There were some penalties and a fight or two, but we all know that is part of the game, right? Clearwater Ice Hawks had one win, loss and a nail-biting tie to pull off a playoff spot in that final game. The puck-drop started off the intense rivalry between the top two teams and it continued throughout the game. The Salmon Arm team took a 2-1 lead and then it looked like it would be a foregone conclusion when they pulled ahead to make it 5-1.
The Clearwater Ice Hawks rallied with three unanswered goals to bring it to 5-4 and then there was a plexiglass problem with one sheet being broken and a fix-it break. That took away the momentum and the local guys tried unsuccessfully to get it back.
A number of penalties and some back and forth action ended with Salmon Arm pulling off the win.
Some 50/50 draws and a TV were up for grabs as well as some food from the hard-working arena staff for a fun-filled tourney.
The weekend also saw a two-day Girls Hockey Training Camp. The camp featured guest coach Keisha Johnson who used some fun drills and routines for practicing skills with the girls. The smiles on the faces of the girls on the ice showed what a success the event was.
Practice and knowing just what to keep working on always enhances anyone’s game. It was great to see the all-around improvement in all of the young ladies. All in all the huge number of fans and players in town, as well as our local support, showed an enjoyable weekend for everyone.
