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Flames raise cash and score important win

Fans of the South Okanagan Flames stepped up and so did the team.
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Quinn Ramsay celebrates his second goal that helped the South Okanagan Flames down the Vernon Tigers 8-7 at Memorial Arena on Monday.

Fans of the South Okanagan Save-on Foods Flames stepped up and so did the team.

While admission was free to watch the Flames host the Vernon Tigers in their final home game of the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League season, the organization asked the community to support its initiative to raise money for Kody Ramsay, nephew of Flames president Kevin Harms, who is fighting Cancer (recurrent Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma).

While the Flames clawed back from a 3-1 deficit after the first period to earn a hard fought 8-7 win, Harms’ wife Myrna, counted the donations that totaled $1,700, which included a $250 donation from the Tigers lacrosse organization and another $20 from the coach following the game.

“I think it was awesome,” said Harms of the support for Ramsay, 18. “The local people getting out and getting involved like that was just fantastic. We knew it would be like that out here. The fans (approximately 70) have been great for us. They (Vernon) are just a great bunch of guys.”

Ramsay, a lacrosse player himself, resides in Abbotsford and travels to Vancouver for treatments. Harms said his nephew has had a tough time the last couple of weeks.

“The cancer is getting worse in spite of nine months of treatment,” he said. “This money will go to help him and his family. It’s been tough on the family. This will be really good.”

Flames alternate captain Quinn Ramsay was happy to see the Flames perform well in front of a good crowd for “a good cause.”

“We wanted to give them a good show,” said Ramsay, who scored two goals. “I wanted to beat Vernon ever since two years ago. We were first seed and they beat us out of the playoffs. I have a lot of friends on that team. It was good to see the look on their faces when we beat them.”

Flames coach Tony Ramsay was happy to see his team play consistently for 60 minutes. The Flames were challenged early  trailing 3-0. They had two goals disallowed before heading to the dressing room behind 3-1. He felt they played solid defensively, which is something he has preached all season.

“We have been working on tightening up on defence and not being overly aggressive,” said Ramsay. “Just being patient and steering the shooter to the outside. They were doing that.”

He liked the focus they had and was thrilled with the goaltending of Dean Grimm, who made big saves when needed.

“It’s a huge boost to the team,” said Ramsay of Grimm, who turned aside 38 shots. “When he makes big stops the team gets fired up. It was great.”

 

With the win, the Flames improve to five wins and nine losses and finish up the season against the Armstrong Shamrocks on Friday at the Nor-Val Centre in Armstrong before getting ready for the playoffs.