An undefeated weekend gave Penticton’s Advantage Mini Storage Heat PeeWee team gold at the Semiahmoo lacrosse tournament.
The Heat posted wins over the host Semiahmoo Rock 6-2 and Abbotsford 4-0, while tying Westshore Whalers 3-3.
Less than 24 hours later, the Heat re-matched against the Whalers in the gold medal game. The Whalers jumped out to a 1-0 lead before Jace Canada replied for the Heat to draw even.
Austin Swanson put the Heat ahead with a laser beam shot from the top of the house, but the Whalers were able to draw even. Canada scored what appeared to be the game-winning goal, but the Whalers battled back, replying to Canada’s second and third goals of the game.
Tied 4-4 at the end of regulation, the teams battled in an eight-minute sudden-death overtime to find themselves still tied. The game would be decided by a two-man shootout. Canada and Swanson scored on their attempts while goaltender Darius Venables stood tall and stopped one of two shots to win the gold medal. The gold medal was not won without controversy. The Whalers finished the game with no penalties, while the Heat had to kill 26 minutes in penalties throughout the game — six of those were in the overtime period.
They were helped by outstanding penalty killing by the speedy Bryn Carter and tenacious checking of Tiko Markovic, Ty Ricard, Trenton Hensen, Matts Bratton and Matthew Carson. Rookies Jayce Pidskalney, and Freddy Harbinson Jr. were robbed on glorious scoring opportunities in the dying seconds of regulation time. Colin Duffield was named MVP of the gold medal game.
Darius Venables was outstanding in goal posting a shutout and a staggering 1.00 goals against average and nominated for MVP in round robin play. Game MVPs went to Bryn Carter and Jace Canada, while Harbinson was named most sportsmanlike player.
Dan Ricard and his coaching staff were proud of the team for maintaining their composure and battling through the adversity.