The 1999 Valley Selects shut down the 99 Island Selects 4-0 Monday in the finals of the Challenger Cup Spring Rep Hockey Tournament at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
Great hustle by the Valley Selects resulted in two powerplay goals by Brady Marzocco, assisted by Matt Kowalski and Austin Caldwell. Singles went to Owen Beliveau and Kowalski, into the empty net.
The Island Selects pressed hard all game but Conor Webb was sensational to earn the shutout.
The Valley entry, made up of players from Vernon, Kelowna, Spokane and the Kootenays, went 6-0 with Kowalski tying for the tournament points lead. Coaches are Murray Caton, Scott Kowalski and Brad Shaigec.
The Selects opened preliminary play Friday by icing the Colorado T-Birds 2-0 on goals by Beliveau, from Jason Shaigec, and Shawn Campbell, assisted by Evan Mills. Shane Meadahl earned the shutout.
On Saturday, the Valley boys clipped the Fraser Valley Jr. Heat 2-1 in a defensive battle that saw all the scoring take place in the third.
Austin Caldwell converted from Liam Hennig, while Grady Caton netted the winner from Marzocco. Solid defence from Braden Jones and Ryan Moore supported Webb.
Later in the day, the Selects bounced the Richmond Ravens Red 5-0, receiving dynamic defensive play from Ben Woodward, Riley Swiscoski, Caton, Shaigec, Jones, and Moore with Meadahl earning the shutout.
On Sunday, the Selects grounded Colorado 5-0 in quarterfinal play with Webb the net detective. Kowalski registered the winner with Swiscoski drawing the helper. Aiden Browell, from Shaigec, and Beliveau, from Hennig, finished the first-period scoring.
The Selects brushed back the 99 Vancouver Venom 3-1 in the semifinals with the Venom scoring first.
The Selects responded in the second period with a passing play from Hennig to Kowalski. Marzocco connected with assists going to Caldwell and Kowalski before Kowalski completed the attack. Meadahl was outstanding in goal.
2002 Lakers take silver
The 2002 Okanagan Lakers (sponsored by Seasons Spa & Salon) lost 5-4 in double overtime to the Vancouver Vipers in the Challenge Cup final.
The Lakers started pool play by storming the NAA Roughnecks of Calgary 7-4 before downing the Vancouver Selects Blues 5-2 and brushing back the B.C. Blackhawks 5-3.
The Okanagan bunch bounced the Island Stars 6-3 in the quarters and shaded the B.C. Bears 2-1 in an overtime semifinal.
“The kids played with a lot of heart and character,” said Laker head coach Sandy Moger. “We weren’t the most talented team but we were the hardest workers.”
The Lakers were picked as the classiest team in the tournament.
“The players presented themselves with dignity and maturity throughout the weekend,” added Moger.
The Lakers were led by Vernon products Tanner Brown, Logan Chapdelaine, Caden Danbrook, Cole Boyarski and Cameron Moger. Assistant coaches are Byron Dafoe, Jason Danbrook and Trevor Fiest.
