MINOR HOCKEY REPORT
Merritt’s City Furniture’s bantam rec squad plays host to a six-team tournament this weekend at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Out-of-town teams are coming from Kamloops, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Langley and Mission.
The hometown Jr. Cents play their round-robin games on Friday at 4:45 p.m., and on Saturday at 8:45 a.m. and at 2 p.m.
The Merritt bantams warmed up for their home tournament by splitting a pair of league games in Lillooet on the weekend. Saturday, they were losers by a narrow 3-1 margin. The following day, they won 9-6.
Weekend scorers for the City Furniture side were Talon Zakall (4), Dylan Stirling (2), Anthony Michel, Austin Hawkins and Isaiah McRae. Michel and Armoni McRae picked up assists. Troy Holmes took care of the goalkeeping.
Atom Recreation
The LNB atoms were edged 6-4 by Lillooet on home ice Sunday. Merritt scorers were Colton Ferris and Kolton Wekking with two goals apiece. Brooke Gustafson and Charlie Michel earned assists.
Atom Development
The Fountain Tire atoms settled for second place at a tournament in Kamloops on the weekend. Round-robin action saw the Jr. Cents tie the host side 1-1, lose to Kelowna 4-3 and beat Quesnel 7-3.
In semi-final play, Merritt topped Vernon 4-1 to earn a rematch with Kelowna in the gold-medal game. The Jr. Rockets emerged victorious 8-3.
Fountain Tire scorers on the weekend were Lucas Schmid (9), Karson Peat (7), Jalen McRae and Gracie Graham (one each).
Peewee Rep
The Ramada peewee reps played twice away from home this past weekend.
On Saturday, they traveled to Osoyoos and defeated South Okanagan 8-3. Sunday saw them edge the Kamloops Jr. Blazers in the Tournament Capital City by a score of 3-1.
Merritt point-getters in the two games were Max Graham (4g, 5a), Breanna Ouellet (4g, 4a), Matthew Newman (1g, 2a), Caleb Brackett (1g, 1a), Sajjin Lali (1g), Divaan Sahota (2a), Chase Cooke (2a), Jayden Story (1a), Missy McDonnell (1a) and Allison Moore (1a).
Midget Rep
The Tracker Sports-wear midget reps took 11 skaters and two goalies to a tournament in Sicamous on the weekend. They were unable to win any of their four games, losing to Kelowna 4-0, Cranbrook 4-0, Nanaimo 4-3 and Vernon 4-1.
Merritt scorers were Anthony Tulliani with three goals and Sahil Bansi.
Midget Recreation
Two goals by Abram Jackson, including the game winner with 35 seconds remaining in the third period lifted the NVIT midgets to a thrilling 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Logan Lake at the Shulus arena on Sunday.
Other Merritt scorers were Ethan Sheena-Patrick, Keisha Henry, Trai Carmichael, Austin Dan and Travis Mosley. Colton Macaulay recorded the win in net.
Female Hockey
The Merritt atom, bantam and midget girls teams were all involved in their own home tournament on the weekend.
The Ultimate Hockey and Skate atoms played well but failed to register a win, losing to a pair of Kamloops teams 7-2 and 5-4, to Kelowna 16-0 and to Penticton 8-2.
Atom scorers for Merritt were Sophie Sterling (2), Eva Galbraith (2), Ayla Goss, Kaidyn Keough, Marcy Chenier and Ashley Cavaliere.
The Merritt Tolko Industries bantams suffered a similar fate, losing all four of their games against a pair of powerhouse sides from the Lower Mainland. The local team, which has a large number of peewee-aged players on its roster, fell to Surrey 9-2 and 7-3, and to Richmond 16-0 and 10-1.
Merritt’s bantam scorers were Bianca Cavaliere (2), Taylor Shackelly (2), Mariska Wekking and Jorja Thormoset.
The Merritt Joco Transport midget girls team was the only home side to record a win, downing league-rival Chase 3-1 in their final game. In round robin play, Merritt lost to Chase 3-1, North Shore Winter Club 4-2 and Surrey 11-0.
Midget scorers for Merritt were Renée Stockwell (3), Madeleine Barnes and Jenna Sigurdsson.
Tournament champions were Penticton (atom), Richmond (bantam) and Surrey (midget).
