Vernon’s Curtis Lazar turned the hat trick as Team B.C. grounded Quebec 7-4 to secure a gold medal in hockey at the Canada Winter Games Friday in Halifax.
Lazar, the second overall pick of the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, led all scorers in the tourney with 12 goals and five assists in six games, helping B.C. record its first hockey gold medal in three decades.
Vernon’s Cole Sanford collected a single in the championship game, finishing the tournament with three goals and three assists.
Lumby’s Dylan Bowen had a goal and assist in the tourney.
Team B.C. toppled Ontario 5-2 in Thursday’s semifinal.
Trailing 1-0 early, B.C. responded with five unanswered goals.
Lazar had 3+1 and Bowen chipped in with a goal and a helper.
Quebec stuffed Alberta 5-4 in overtime to advance to the gold-medal game.