Merritt’s Murray GM bantam reps had an outstanding weekend at their own six-team tournament. They finished second overall, losing 6-1 to Smithers in Sunday’s championship game.
The Jr. Cents opened the tournament on Friday with a 4-4 tie against Ridge Meadows. Merritt scorers were AP call-up Tyler Mosley with two goals, Tyler Simon and Connor Ouellet.
Saturday morning, the Murray GM squad was edged 6-5 by Smithers. Kealan Lester and Anthony Tulliani each scored twice for Merritt, while Marco Camastro tallied once.
In their second game on Saturday, Merritt outlasted Summerland 9-6 in a scorefest. Hometown scorers were Mosley (5), Tulliani, Lester and AP Darius Sam.
In one of two semi-finals on Sunday morning, Merritt bested a team from Everett, Washington 5-2 with goals coming from Lester (2), Sam, Tulliani and Justin Tighe.
With no call-ups available, a short-staffed Murray GM squad was no match for Smithers in the tournament final. Only Fred Ware was able to find the back of the net for Merritt.
Mosley, Ouellet, Simon, Sam Tighe, Tulliani, Camastro, Travis Simon, Tanveer Bansi and Gord Ware all picked up one or more assists over the weekend.
Both Mack Stead and Holden King played terrific in net for the Murray GM team.
“This was a great weekend for our team, and a big confidence booster,” Murray GM head coach Bill Kelly said. “The kids came together and played well as a team. Our players would like to sincerely thank the APs from the bantam house team that helped out on the weekend, and all the parents that helped to make the tournament a successful one.”
Peewee Girls
The Joco Transport peewee girls traveled to Vernon on Sunday and blanked the host Jr. Vipers 8-0.
Merritt’s leading scorer was Bianca Cavaliere with four goals, while Ivy Smith had a pair, and both Taylor Shackelly and Reese Paterson scored once. Goalie Janelle Gage netted the shutout.
Midget House
It’s been a busy month of November for the NVIT midget house team.
On the November 7 and 8 weekend, the midgets were in Chilliwack for a tournament. Despite an 0-4 record, the young lads put up a good battle.
Point getters at the tourney were Keyton Laupitz (6), Kris Chastko (4), Isaac Jackson (3), Alex Fraser and Trai Carmichael (2 each), Shadin McClure and Tanner Malloy.
On November 16, the NVIT squad was a 10-3 winner over Logan Lake. Merritt scorers were Travis Mosley (3), Fraser and Laupitz (2 each), Cole Brown, Malloy and Austin Dan. Assists went to Jackson, Chastko, Malloy and Aaron Tippe.
Finally, on November 23, the NVIT team hosted Lillooet and fell 7-2.
“It was a 3-2 game two minutes into the third period,” head coach Brian Laupitz said, “then unfortunately the wheels kind of fell off.”
Merritt marksmen were Mosley and Laupitz. Assists went to Chastko, Malloy and Carmichael.
A special shout out goes to netminder Trevor Hillson. As the team’s only goaltender he has to play every minute of every game.
Atom Development
The Fountain Tire atoms were edged 5-4 by the Summerland Jets on the weekend. Max Graham had a hat trick in the narrow loss, while Robert Sterling scored Merritt’s other goal. Lucas Schmid picked up the lone assist.
The atoms host a six-team tournament this weekend, with visiting squads coming from Port Moody, Cranbrook, Burnaby, Vancouver’s North Shore and Kamloops.
Merritt’s round robin games are Friday at 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday at 7 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. All three games are at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Bantam House
The City Furniture house bantams blanked Logan Lake 10-0 on the weekend. Scoring for the Merritt team were Darius Sam and Tyler Mosley (3 goals each), Levi Nelson (2), Austin Hawkins and Nkikaxni Grismer-Voght.
Mosley, Sam, Nelson, Hawkins, Phillip McRae, Ethan Sheena-Patrick and Mesha Naiker all had assists. Colton Macaulay notched the shutout in net.
Peewee Rep
Spencer Vaughan picked up a hat trick as the Ramada peewee reps defeated Kamloops 4-2 on Sunday at the Valleyview Arena. Merritt’s other scorer was Talon Zakall, while Bryce Garcia earned the win in net. Zakall and Anthony Michel had assists.
