Morning Star Staff
The Kamloops Blazers stopped the Sun Valley Source for Sports Vipers 6-3 in Sunday’s final of the Vernon Bantam Tier 1 Hockey Tournament at Civic Arena.
Kamloops took an early lead but Vernon tied things at 3-3 early in the second before the big and fast Blazers rang up three consecutive power play goals.
Kobe Grant was solid in the Vernon net after securing a berth in the finals with a 9-0 semifinal shutout over the Kelowna Rockets.
Zack Funk scored twice in the final with Trevor Kennedy netting a single. Steel Quiring had three helpers while Ben Imrich and Kennedy had one each as the Vipers battled without three regulars, hurt in the semis.
Kamloops knocked off Langley 8-1 in the other semi.
Nine different Vipers scored versus Kelowna: K.T. Walters, Braeden McAmmond, Jacob Boden, Isaac Thomas, Porter Trevelyan, Cam Moger, Funk, Kennedy and Quiring.
Vernon won their four-team pool at 3-0,overpowering the South Delta Storm 6-1 Saturday morning. MVP Thomas and Quiring each supplied deuces with singles going to Jacob Jones and Funk.
Vernon brushed off the Port Moody Panthers 4-3 to finish the round-robin, Chris Reinhardt roofing his own rebound for the winner.
MVP Jones jumpstarted the offence before setting up Colby Feist for a sweet one-timer. Funk finished the scoring after getting a blade change from his dad Mike.
Cayden Hamming played a strong second half to keep Vernon in the game. Connor Elliott and Mason Robinson each drew an assist.
Vernon is coached by former pro and junior stars Dean McAmmond, Wes Elliott and Tyler Quiring.
The Fix Auto Vipers bowed 7-3 to Aldergrove in Sunday’s semifinal of the Abbotsford Bantam Tier 3 Winter Classic.
Teja Sheldrake was in net for all four games with Vernon opening with a 6-3 win over Portland on goals by Cody Beckner, Maddex Minard, Fraser O’Brien, Jaxxon Collard, Ronac Chauhan and Liam Remple. MVP was Owen Palfreyman
The Fix Auto crew then lost 4-1 to Cloverdale with d-man Remple setting up Jacob Green for the Viper goal. MVP was Ben Reinhardt.
Vernon grounded Chilliwack 4-2 with MVP honours going to Minard, who set up Reilly Teague for the first snipe.
Chauhan went top cheddar after a feed by Remple, while Minard set up Teague for another fantastic finish. The fourth goal came on a back hand pass from Chauhan to Green for the finish.
Palfreyman and Chauhan set up Reinhardt for an easy tap in for the first goal.
Chauhan brought the puck down the middle in the third period and his shot richocheted off Reinhardt’s stick and in. MVP Green sweetly finished a pass from Chauhan for the last goal.
In Midget Tier 3 play, the Coca-Cola Vipers fell 7-1 to the Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday at Priest Valley Arena.
Jake Brewer converted from Chris Aldrich for the Coke crew (3-6-2). Trail improved to 8-3.
The H&L Glass Vipers lost 4-2 to the first-place Salmon Arm Silvertips in Atom Rep Development play.
Tylan Hutton and Oliver Murray scored for the Vipers.