A pair of local entries each went 1-2 at the B.C. Ball Hockey Championships last weekend in Vernon.
Playing in the B Division, the short-benched Vernon Whalers opened the action with a 5-3 loss to the Burnaby Bombers Friday night at Kal Tire Place.
Former Viper captain, and current assistant coach, Dave Robinson, his cousin and ex-Everett Silvertip Ryan Harrison and another ex-Viper captain Garth Gartner handled the Whaler scoring.
Daniel Lafortune led Burnaby with two goals and two assists.
“Most of our guys are working up north or away camping,” said Robinson.
“In the regular season that would be fine, but in provincials when you’re playing teams that have 20 guys, we couldn’t keep up with them.”
Alex Rodgers, a Salmon Arm product, scored twice as the Whalers bowed 9-2 to the Kelowna Drillers Saturday afternoon.
Robinson and Harrison each had 2+4 as the Whale bounced the Victoria Rangers 9-2 in their final game.
Justin O’Krane (2+3), Bryce Kakoske (2+1) and Blair Fernley (1+2) rounded out the offence in front of Blair Miller (18 saves).
The Bombers silenced the Surrey Assassins 4-0 in the B final of the six-team tourney.
In C division play, the Vernon Vikings fell 6-5 to the Burnaby Bombers #2 in their Friday opener, with Daniel Wiens, Mike McLaren, Russell Radziszewski, Scott McDonald and Rob Rintoul supplying the offence.
Ryan Dubetz pocketed a pair, and Ryan Davies and Calvin Davies added singles in the Kings’ 4-2 loss to the Coquitlam Sabres Saturday morning.
Brad Lloyd (2+1), Radziszewski (2), Dubetz (1+2), McDonald, Chris Lariviere and Curtis Gobbett took care of the attack as Vernon ended their weekend with an 8-3 win over the Kamloops Studs.
The Victoria Underground doubled Burnaby 4-2 to claim the C crown.
