It appears the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League title will be decided next Thursday when the Vernon Sun Valley Source For Sports Tigers visit the Kamloops Venom.
Both teams are 11-3 with two games remaining.
Jake Pelletier rang up 3+5 and Brett Olson also pulled the hat trick as the Tigers toppled the Armstrong Shamrocks 12-6 Saturday night at Kal Tire Place.
Colton Boomer (6) and Riley Peterson (3) boosted the Venom past the South Okanagan Flames 14-10 Monday night in Penticton.
Thomas Landels pocketed 2+1 for the Tigers, who got singles from Steel Pelletier, Conor Webb and Caden Colmorgen. Kyle Cuzzetto counted four assists. Steel Pelletier was ejected midway through the second period after arguing an interference penalty.
Sam Hanley, with four, Brayden Hoggarth and captain Marlon Forrest, replied for the Shamrocks. Tyler Chartier chipped in with three helpers.
Vernon held period leads of 5-0 and 9-3. Darnell Hauca and Kyle McIntosh combined to make 31 saves, while Connor Senn of the Rocks blocked 36 shots.
Meanwhile, the senior Shamrocks grounded the visiting Kamloops Rattlers 10-3 and ran their record to 7-0.
Carston Schlaak started the Rocks’ scoring on the opening faceoff by running a perfect pick and roll off the left side with Brett Hawrys and depositing a shot over Rattlers netminder Mike Smith’s shoulder.
Seconds later, Joel Castle ripped a corker top cheese. Hawrys cut through the middle to score but a bad line change by the offence cost the Irish a goal.
Will Hanley had two disallowed goals for crease violations but finally scored on a great individual effort, splitting two defenders and rolling off another to dent the hemp.
Austin Lewarne connected with a beautiful shorthanded marker on a breakaway pass from Jamie Cockerill and Braden Barr scored his first as a Shamrock on a perfect cross floor pass from Hawrys for a one-timer to make it 6-1 after 20 minutes.
Kamloops scored on a nice one-timer on the power play but Steve Clark answered on a Shamrock man advantage. It was 7-2 after two periods.
Hawrys won a one-on-one battle and sliced to the crease to score on a low, glove-hand shot. Clark buried a rope-ripping shot from the shooter position and then newly acquired veteran Jamie MacGregor potted his first as an Armstrong Shamrock (scored a few as a Victoria Shamrock) on the powerplay after some nifty passing.
The Rattlers scored on a last-minute goal dribbler.
“When our offensive unit plays like a unit we are potent,” said Irish captain Clark. “Tonight we came out flying to start but were pretty flat in the second and cruised through the third. We know we can play better.”
The Shamrocks close the regular season Friday in Kamloops and then host Game 1 of the Rowcliffe Cup finals starting Wednesday July 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Nor Val Sports Centre.