A local ball hockey team are silver medallists following their first appearance in a provincial championship.
The North Island Jets, a team that has barely been around for a full season, took home the prize at the competition on Victoria. The team had a 3-1-1 record over weekend, with forward Luc Pelletier leading the tournament in points.
Darcy McNeil, a team coach and organizer, says they played strong games with comebacks to put themselves into first position, including tying against the Vikings, who were the favourites to win.
Heading into the semi-finals, the team had acquired a 2-0-1 record before their game against the Hounds, where they took a 10 – 5 victory.
The team would move on to the semi-finals, where they beat the Kamloops team 5 – 3 and faced off with the Vikings once again in the final.
Despite a strong start, coming out with two goals, the Vikings battled their way back for a 4 – 2 win and claimed the gold medal.
Although the team did not walk away with the top prize, McNeil says the Vikings deserved the win in a well fought battle.
“We threw everything we had at the Vikings for the rest of the game – Sean Phair even hit the crossbar, but their goalie ultimately stood on his head barely outduelling Chris Albrecht who had an outstanding playoff performance,” said McNeil.
The game was a clean, gritty, fast, highly skilled war with a well deserving gold medal Vikings champion besting a proud group of up incoming North Island Jets winning the silver medal.
McNeil adds the team could not be prouder of the result considering it was their first time in a provincial championship.
