The Thompson Okanagan Lakers are out of the running for the Female AAA Midget Hockey league’s Esso Cup.
The Lakers lost two games to one in the best-of-three semifinal this past weekend to the Northern Capitals in Prince George.
Each game ended 3-2 with two going to overtime, including the clincher Sunday.
Hunter Mosher scored the series winner for the Capitals after Christy Blackburne of West Kelowna forced overtime with the tying goal for the Lakers with 1:35 remaining in regulation.
Ashley McCabe of Lillooet had the other goal for Thompson Okanagan, who won the opener Friday in overtime on the second goal of the game from Vernon’s Samantha Head, on a power play.
Vernon’s Laine Grace had the other goal for the Lakers.
The Capitals responded Saturday to force Game 3. McCabe had both goals for the Lakers, who will play a fun game in Salmon Arm at the Shaw Centre at 4 p.m. March 22 against Japan’s national women’s team.
The national squad is attending the World’s Women’s Ice Hockey Championship in Kamloops starting March 26. Team Japan will be practising at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm during the week of March 20 and will play two exhibition games: against the Lakers Tuesday, March 22, and against the Salmon Arm Midget Female Silvertips Thursday, March 24. Both games are free and start at 4 p.m.
The Capitals will face the Greater Vancouver Comets in the provincial female AAA final. The Comets eliminated the Vancouver Island Seals 2-0 in the other best-of-three semi.
*** North Okanagan Knights will take on the Fernie Jr. Ghostriders in their opening game of the B.C. Tier 4 Pee Wee hockey championships Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at Armstrong’s Nor-Val Sports Centre.
Seven teams will compete for the provincial title.
Joining the Knights and Fernie are the Kelowna Junior Rockets, Vanderhoof Bears, Langley Eagles, Vancouver Thunderbirds and Prince Rupert Seawolves.
“It’s the first time that the Okanagan Mainline district has hosted the Pee Wee Tier 4 championships since 2009 (Lumby hosted that year),” said tournament chairperson Paul Makse. “It’s also the first time that North Okanagan has hosted a Pee Wee provincial championship in more than 25 years.”
Games will be played in Armstrong and Enderby with the championship game set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at the Enderby Arena.