The short-benched North Okanagan Prestige Hotel Legends went 2-2 in securing Pee Wee B1 bronze at a lacrosse tournament last weekend in Kamloops.
The Legends iced West Kootenay 9-1 to lock up third place, with game MVP going to Jaxxon Collard and the Heart and Hustle award to Dawson Kerkhoff.
The Legends rolled with only nine runners, plus an Atom call-up, for their Friday opener, a 6-4 loss to Prince George.
The Legends stuck with Prince George for most of the game, taking a 4-4 draw into the third period. Call-up Tye Krause earned game MVP for giving the Legends a much-needed spark. Heart and Hustle award went to speedster Sorcha Pasco.
North Okanagan split its Saturday games, starting with a 13-1 loss to the Burnaby Lakers in a physical morning tilt.
Game MVP went to Brayden Leveille, and the Hustle award to captain Jacob Brewer, who played on two sore feet. He also picked up an assist on the lone goal by Levielle.
The Legends rebounded with a 7-6 nailbiter win over Kamloops in the afternoon. They came out flying, taking a 4-1 lead after the first period. Game MVP James Crowdis made an inspired rush down the floor, bulldozing several Rattlers for his first goal of the year.
The Legends took a 7-2 lead in period three, but fatigue took over, and the Rattlers capitalized with four straight goals.
The North Okanagan shortman team of Kerkhoff, Brewer, Nathaniel Foster and Pasco helped keep Kamloops at bay. The Hustle award went to Macey Drabiuk.
The Pee Wees are hosting a hot dog fundraiser outside The Sports Store (4412 27th Street) on Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Money raised will be used to help with tournament costs and extra team fees.
In Bantam B1 play, the Legends jumpstarted a weekend set with an 8-6 win over the Penticton Heat Saturday in Summerland.
Thomas Mackiewich opened the scoring for the Legends, who trailed 2-1 at the break. North Okanagan took a 4-3 lead into the second intermission on a pair by Riley Swiscoski and one from Tanner Franje-Gilbert.
In a frantic third period, the Legends popped four goals – two by Shelby Connors, one from Brett Williams and Swiscoski completing the hat trick.
The Legends fell short of a comeback Sunday, bowing 7-5 to the Nicola Valley Thunder at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.
The Thunder jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Tyler Riva got the Legends on the board. Nicola Valley scored a buzzer-beater to end the period.
The visitors showed good defence in keeping North Okanagan off the board in the second period, and added a single to extend the lead.
A pair of quick goals by Connors got the Legends back in the game, and with the Thunder leading 6-3, Chase Bronson and Williams each netted singles to close the gap to one. Nicola Valley sealed the win with an empty-netter.
The Cenovus Legends gave up a goal with 15 seconds left in regulation to fall 4-3 to Merritt in Saturday Midget play.
Daniel Dejarlais had pulled the Legends even with 42 seconds left. Jacob Riva supplied a pair for North Okanagan, while Kiana Point (2), Mackenzie Moore and Richard Thompson added assists.
Darnell Hauca was solid in recording 35 saves.
