The Carri’s Restaurant Midget Silvertips have claimed silver in the Midget Tier 2 Provincial Championships at Sunwave Centre.
It was a great accomplishment, particularly given that some of the top-ranked teams in the province didn’t make it out of the round robin. The Silvertips finished the tournament with three wins, one loss and two ties.
In the gold-medal game Wednesday night, Cranbrook took a decisive 4-0 win.
In the semifinal matchup Wednesday morning, Salmon Arm took on Surrey, defeating them 5-4 in an exciting contest. That win advanced the Silvertips to the gold-medal game, which took place at 8 p.m. March 23.
On Tuesday night, the team took on undefeated Cranbrook in their third game of the round robin. Dustin Mainprize opened up the scoring in the first, assisted by Dylan Larson and Levi Chamberlain. The ’Tips added four more goals in the second from Justin Murray off of Nathan Grieve, Sicamous product Dylan Franson off of fellow Sicamous player Stewart Coyle, Nathan Grieve (Colby Erickson), Nathan Grieve (Alex Fournier). Cranbrook did get one back in the second but penalty trouble kept them on the defensive for most of the second and third periods. The ’Tips added three more goals in the third – Brayden Hislop (Stewart Coyle, Nathan Grieve), Alex Fournier (Zane Perry), and Nathan Grieve (Stewart Coyle, Dustin Mainprize). Blake Puetz was strong in net for the win.
In the final day of the round robin, Trail/Rossland beat Kamloops 5-3. Game 2 had Cranbrook 5, Ft. St. John 2 – advancing Cranbrook to the semifinals. Surrey defeated New Westminister by a score of 2-1, advancing Surrey to the semis. Alberni Valley beat Williams Lake 3-1, advancing Alberni Valley to the semis. Alberni Valley and Cranbrook will meet at 8 a.m. for the first semifinal game.
In the final game of the round robin, Salmon Arm faced off against Trail/Rossland. During the regular season, the ‘Tips beat Trail three of four games, with a tie in the other match up. Trail opened up the scoring five minutes into the first. Nathan Grieve of the ‘Tips tied it up, assisted by Brandon Shirley, a few minutes later. Trail went up again early in the second. Grieve got his second of the game eight minutes later, assisted by Justin Murray and Brayden Hislop.
The action was end to end. Colten Wright made some spectacular saves in net for the ’Tips, including a power play with only two-and-a-half minutes left to play.
For Trail it was do or go home. With the Trail goalie pulled, the ’Tips managed to keep the scored tied 2-2. With the tie, Salmon Arm won their pool and will be facing off against Surrey at 11 a.m. Trail/Rossland won the most sportman-like trophy from the Provincials so they are not going home empty handed.
The Silvertips and Salmon Arm Minor Hockey hosted teams from Kamloops, Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Trail/Rossland, Alberni, New Westminister, Williams Lake and Surrey.
The team started round-robin play Sunday against Kamloops in a division rivalry that was a tight forechecking game with Blake Puetz in goal for the ’Tips. Levi Chamberlain opened up the scoring in the first on a pass from Brett Hanna. Kamloops capitalized on a Salmon Arm penalty, tying it up with 3:30 left in the first. Play continued back and forth through the remaining two periods, with the ’Tips having an offside goal called off late in the third. The score remained tied at 1-1.
After the opening ceremonies that featured players and coaches from all the teams, the ’Tips took on Fort St. John.
Stewart Coyle opened up the scoring just 12 seconds into the game on a pass from Hanna. Call-up Colby Erickson notched another marker in the second, assisted by Coyle and Nathan Grieve. Grieve got his first of the playoffs midway through the third, assisted by Coyle and Hanna. Colten Wright earned the shutout. Final score, Silvertips 3, Fort St. John 0.
