The 2000 Okanagan Lakers clipped the Maple Ridge Flames 6-5 in overtime Sunday to claim bronze in the Osoyoos Desert Cup Hockey Tournament.
Dylan Sedlacek, who earned Defensive Game MVP, scored the winner, while goalie Braeden Barnard make some key saves with the game on the line.
Levi (The Big Easy) Danbrook opened the scoring with two quick goals, assists going to Coleton Bilodeau and Harrison Fenwick.
Mica Burns and Ryland Grimm later converted with assists to Seth Bafaro, Powell Connor, Josh Bridge and Draydon Dougan. The Lakers tied the game with nine seconds remaining in regulation time and the goalie pulled, on a goal by Burns, assisted by Bilodeau. Nicholas Cherkowski was selected Offensive Game MVP.
The Lakers lost their opening game 4-3 to the Northern B.C. Selects.
Danbrook opened the scoring assisted by Fenwick. Cherkowski and Bafaro kept the offence going with assists going to Bilodeau and Fenwick.
Offensive game star went to Danbrook and Defensive game star went to Dougan.
The Lakers then steamrolled the Calgary Riggers 9-3 with Bridge scoring twice and Connor supplying 1+2 and taking Defensive MVP.
Bafaro, Dawson Chase, Lucas Halvorson and Fenwick each provided 1+1, while Grimm and Danbrook also found the net. Offensive MVP was Sebastien Archambault.
The Lakers fell 5-3 to the highly-ranked Red Deer Rustlers, who went on to strike tournament gold.
Bilodeau bagged two goals, while Offensive MVP Burns had one. Assists came from Cherkowski and Bridge. The Defensive MVP was Dylan Sedlacek. Goaltender Spencer Spanier was solid.
The Lakers then went on to beat the Can West Mustangs from Spruce Grove 10-1 with the Lakers showing great puck movement by completing 163 passes.
Archambault pocketed 2+2, while Bafaro and Fenwick each collected 2+1 and Sedlacek also scored twice. Grimm added 1+2, while Cherkowski counted 1+1. Bilodeau, Bridge and Danbrook had two helpers each. Chase earned one assist and was chosen Offensive MVP. The Defensive MVP went to Grimm.
Vernon’s Jason Bilodeau and Kevin Cherkowski, and Revelstoke’s Mike Bafaro are assistants.
The 2002 Okanagan All-Stars, coached by Sandy Moger, struck gold at the Rocky Mountain Invitational Tournament in Banff.
The All-Stars also cleaned up in the skills competition, winning all five events with Vernon’s Caden Danbrook receiving the trophy for Best Stickhandler and Vernon’s Cam Moger taking the Fastest Skater award.
Ben King, Tanner Brown, Anne Cherkowski, and Scott Gilowski, all from Vernon, and Easton Hunter and Trevor Kennedy, joined players from Kelowna and Salmon Arm on the team.
Former NHL goalie Byron Dafoe, Kim Dobranski and Marlon Toews, all of Kelowna, are the assistant coaches.
