The Vernon Buy-Low Foods Vixens surged in the final period to brush back the Shuswap Storm 4-1 and win the Adult Safe Hockey League championship Saturday in Armstrong.
The evenly-matched teams kept the game scoreless after the period. The Vixens’ Mandy Christensen put her team on the board in the second frame on a great feed from Bridget Grant and Bernie Dwan.
The Storm answered right back to tie the game, but with seven minutes remaining, defenceman Sabre Cherkowski buried a point shot for the eventual winner.
Bridget Grant made it 3-1 on a goal assisted by Christensen, and Christine Bosworth added an empty-netter from behind her redline to seal the win.
The Vixens, who won the league with a 17-3 record, had a bye in the first round. They outgunned the fourth-seeded Armstrong Farmers 5-2 in semifinals.
Team point leader Leah Mulvihill had the lone first-period goal, and made it a hat trick night with two more in the second.
Jen Spitzer and Grant completed the Vixen attack.
Netminder Patti Hansen didn’t see much action, allowing one goal off a deflection off a defender. The other happened in a comedy of errors as she came out to play the puck.
Nicole Oakden and Edeen Ramsey were strong on the forecheck, creating many scoring opportunities.
The Vixens are coached by Paul Bourgeois and Mark Duggan.
The Vernon Rellish Transport Rocket Stars wrapped up their inaugural ASHL season by winning the B playoff final Saturday in Armstrong.
Rookie netminder Colleen Nerbus backstopped the Stars in a 9-2 pounding of the Falkland Falcons.
Other newcomers who made strides over the season include Sherri Black, Lisa Young, Lisa Geary, Korri Vandale, Leah Willinger, Denise Bateman and Penny Brown, who finished sixth in regular-season scoring.
They provided tremendous support for returning Stars Tara Mccrae, Erika Jones, Joan Cooke, Vicki Ryan, Stephanie Dodds, Marla Hansen, Sue Barss, Andrea Southam, Tracey Barrie and Karen Benn.
The Stars are coached by Tony Benn and Jarret Watts.
The Rocket Stars and Vixens are both competing in the Checkers rec hockey tournament, which starts today.
The Rocket Star are hosting a dinner and dance, sponsored by Rellish Transport, Saturday night at Checkers. The Goods are headlining the show.
