It was a homecoming for Vernon’s Austin Moore at the Williams Lake Invitational Rec Midget Hockey Tournament last weekend.
The power forward formerly from ‘The Puddle’ joined teammates Reid Lawrence and Nicholas Magerl in scoring twice as the Talon Benefits Eagles smothered the Smithers Rams 9-0 in Sunday’s final.
Tanner Franje-Gilbert, Nick Mitchell and Hayden Vardon supplied singles in support of Aidan Spraggs.
The Eagles shaded the 100 Mile House Wranglers 6-5 in a thrilling semifinal shootout early Sunday morning.
Lawrence and Magerl connected in the shootout, while both players converted twice in regulation with Zach Laranjo getting a single.
The Eagles, coached by Justin Joe and Dusty Sampert, went undefeated in preliminary play, outlasting the Williams Lake Red Tomato Pie Rope Rippers 7-5, ambushing the Williams Lake Subway Donkeys 10-0 and zapping Mueller Electric of Williams Lake 5-0.
Moore netted a deuce, including the winner, against the Rippers. Magerle, with two, Laranjo, Sapion Joe and Vardon completed the offence.
The Eagles are in the annual Smiles for Miles Wohlford Memorial Tournament this weekend. Miles was killed in a boating accident on Okanagan Lake in the summer of 2014. He was 14 and a highly popular hockey and lacrosse player.
The Eagles open the 10-team event Friday 5:30 p.m. against Kelowna at Civic Arena.
A memorial skate for Miles will take place Saturday at 4 p.m. at Civic with members of Miles’ family in attendance. The A final goes Sunday, 2 p.m., at Civic.
Meanwhile, Gage Stoll scored twice, including the winner, as the Vernon DCT Chambers Vikings doubled the hometown Winfield Bruins 4-2 in North Okanagan Bantam Super Hockey League play Saturday at the Winfield Arena.
The Vikings, after a slow start to the season, are now unbeaten in two, and rallied with three unanswered goals in the final period.
Scott Hoffman, with the insurance goal at 13:58 of the final frame, also added an assist on Stoll’s first marker, which tied the game 1-1.
Maddex Fremont had the other goal for the truckers.