Morning Star Staff
You need great goaltending to win a hockey tournament medal.
The Vernon Authentic Trophy & Plaque Hawks are getting that and more in the Smiles for Miles Memorial Midget Rec Hockey Tournament.
Dalton Stenberg was sensational early Saturday morning and alternate captain Hayden Vardon and Sean Howard each scored twice as the Hawks lassoed the Princeton Posse 6-4 at Civic Arena.
Captain Cody Webb and Steven Benischek added singles, while Howard had two helpers.
The Posse got a deuce from Liam Zieske and singles from Jayden Larsen and Kirlan Scollon.
Howard took the Miles Wolhford Most Inspirational Player pennant, while Vardon won the Tim Hortons gift card as MVP.
The Hawks opened the eight-team tourney Friday afternoon with a 5-3 win over the Summerland Jets at Civic.
Webb provided two goals and won the Miles pennant, while d-man Tiege Doughty scored once and earned MVP. Benischek and Howard contributed singles in front of a magnificent Nick Maglio.
Jacob Acheson, Kade Kozak and Callum Bird countered for Summerland.
The North Okanagan Super League leading Talon Benefits Thrashers parlayed a hat trick from Keefer Kaempf into a 9-3 ambush of Princeton in their Friday night opener at Civic.
Christopher Niehusmann, with two, Michael Pusey, Lorin Capalletti, Dakota Becker and Jaiden Steinke completed the Thrasher offence in front of Garrett Adams.
Robert McElroy, Scollon and Shae-lin Kartensen replied for the Posse.
Branden Lehoux and Nate Tully each pocketed a pair as the Corbett Office Plus Kings dispatched the Aldergrove Bruins 5-3 Friday night at Priest Valley Arena.
Nick Hartwig scored once for the Kings, who got two assists apiece from Liam Hennig and Alyssa Racine.
Matthew Wright (2) and Brian Carlson responded for Aldergrove.
Evan Crowe counted two goals as the Kamloops Blazers bounced Nedco Blazers of Vernon 6-4 Friday afternoon at PV.
Jonah Saemerow, Chad Petrie, Josh Olynyk and Josh Rankin also rang up singles.
Reid Lawrence (2), Elias Wery and Keenan Jeberg replied for the Blazers.
The Smiles for Miles final goes Sunday at 4 p.m. at Civic.