The Primal Electric Atom Development team had a strong showing at the Second Annual Cariboo Autumn Classic Atom Development tournament in Quesnel, Oct. 12-14.
In game 1, Primal played the strong host team and despite being outshot, the first period ended in a 0-0 tie.
Quesnel got on the board with two quick goals early in the second and added a third at midpoint. Ethan Sanders responded for Primal, converting a great pass from Emily Menzel. Brodi Lundquist also had an assist on Sanders’ goal.
The teams finished the second period with Quesnel holding a 3-1 lead.
Primal came out strong in the third and was rewarded with an unassisted goal scored by Owen Pincott. Sanders added another goal soon after, but Quesnel also added three goals in the third to skate away with a 6-3 victory.
Ryan Balbirnie was awarded the player of the game award for Primal after playing a strong game in goal.
The competition didn’t get any easier for Primal early Saturday morning when they faced the Prince George team.
Prince George came out strong and led 2-0 after one period. After an early Prince George goal in the second, Sanders responded for Primal, assisted by Balbirnie. Prince George added two more goals late in the second for a 5-2 lead. Pincott had a strong third period, scoring a pair of goals in a two-minute span. His first was assisted by Lundquist, and the second, by Sanders and Nate Wolstenholme.
The final score was 7-3 for Prince George. Pincott was named player of the game for Primal.
Game 3 saw the 100 Milers go up against Vanderhoof and both teams headed in winless.
Vanderhoof scored two early goals and Spencer Haggstrom got Primal on the board with a nice individual effort at the midway mark of the first period. Pincott continued his strong play, scoring later in the frame with Haggstrom getting the assist. Vanderhoof led 3-2 after one period.
Vanderhoof came out strong in the second adding three more goals. Haggstrom scored his second of the game assisted by Cole Allan.
The northern squad continued its strong play in the third, scoring three more times against the tiring 100 Mile team, which was down to nine skaters due to an injury to Wolstenholme. However, the team refused to quit and Menzel potted a goal, assisted by Allan.
Colton Sanford was awarded the player of the game for strong play at both ends of the rink.
In their final game of the day, Primal played Williams Lake and jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first minute on a goal by Haggstrom, assisted by Sanford. However, Williams Lake finished the first with a 3-1 lead.
Haggstrom again started strong for 100 Mile, scoring his second of the game. Allan added another goal for Primal in the third, but despite their best efforts, the local players just didn’t have enough gas left in the tank and ended up on the wrong side of a 6-3 score. Allan was named player of the game for Primal Electric.
Primal takes on the Prince George Atom Development team at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre at 6:15 p.m. on Oct. 20, and at 11 a.m. on Oct. 21.
