Vernon Watkin Motors Mustangs scored three times in the first four minutes Friday and rolled to a 15-2 win over the Dawson Creek Canucks in the final round-robin game for both teams at the 45th annual Coca-Cola Classic Pee Wee Hockey Tournament at the Civic Arena.
Steel Quiring led the Mustangs with six goals, Zachary Funk fired in four and Austin Roest added a goal and four helpers.
Single goals went to Emma Elders, Jacob Boden, Jakob Jones and Ronac Chauhan.
Vernon took on the Alaska Fairbanks Arctic Lions in a championship side semifinal Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
The Lions finished 2-1 in the Sun Valley Division, earning a date with the hosts after a 3-1 win over the Nelson Leafs Friday night.
The other championship semi featured the 3-0 St. Albert (Alta.) Sabres against the Idaho Junior Steelheads.
Elders’ breakaway goal late in the second period Thursday night proved to be the game-winner as the Mustangs doubled Idaho 6-3.
Elders, whose father, Jason, holds the Vernon junior hockey franchise record for most goals in a season (67), snuck behind the Steelheads defence, took a sweet pass from Chauhan and beat goalie Cade Corbin top-shelf stick-side to give Vernon a 4-3 lead.
The goal came a minute after Funk tied the game for the Mustangs.
Boden, with his second of the game, and Connor Elliott added third-period insurance goals for the Mustangs. Isaac Thomas had the other Vernon goal.
The Steelheads finished at 2-1 after a 7-1 win over the Calgary Glenlake Hawks.
The Saints beat the Arctic Lions 7-5 Friday morning and rolled past the Fort St. John Flyers 7-2.
On the consolation side Saturday, Joe Davidson scored three times as Nelson posted a 7-1 win over Calgary to advance to the C final, and sending the Glenlake Hawks to the D final.
Dawson Creek took on Fort St. John in the other consolation semi.
The D final goes today at 10, followed by the C final at 12:30 p.m., the B final at 3:15 p.m. and the championship game at 5:30 p.m.
Elsewhere on opening day Thursday, in the Coca-Cola Division, the Steelheads whipped the Canucks 11-3, with Dawson Creek rebounding to beat Calgary 8-2.
In the Sun Valley Division, the Sabres edged the Nelson Leafs 4-3 in overtime on a goal from Ryese Richards, and the Arctic Lions defeated Fort St. John 7-2.
All games in the tournament are at the Civic Arena.
n The Lumby Team Maltman Stars novice squad, sponsored by Gorman Brothers, hosted their home tournament in late January, winning two of three games, thanks to great work in goal by Kaleb Murray.
The team sends a big thank you to coaches Shawn Maltman, Derek Murray, Matt Davyduke, Tory Romailler and manager Kym Lorentz for making the weekend a great one.