The Penticton Heat under-15 field lacrosse team dominated its way to a second straight Interior Field Lacrosse League championship.
The Heat crushed the Kelowna Kodiaks 27-0 in the semifinal and easily handled the North Okanagan Legends 22-4.
Heat coach Dan Chetner said he is satisfied with what they accomplished after winning all 12 league matches.
“It would have been a disappointment not to have won a championship,” said Chetner. “Not just winning for winning sake, but we’ve proven to be the best team in that division over the past two years. If they had not won, it would have meant they didn’t play to their ability.”
Against the Kodiaks, Kale Lawrence racked up five goals, Brendan Craig netted four, Colin Duffield and Ben Olsen each potted a hat-trick, while Matt Carson, Beau Chetner, Aidan Danby and Freddy Harbinson scored twice. Logan Cote, Hayden Marschall, Austin Swanson and Aiden Warren each scored once.
Against the Legends, Olsen rattled off six goals, Chetner four and added an assist, as well as hat-tricks for Duffield, Lawrence and Nash Moog. Carson, Cote and Warren each scored once.
Chetner watched his team pick up its intensity in snatching up ground balls saying they were better on Nov. 8 then they were all season. Chetner said that the importance of the games was clear to the players.
“Individuals made a commitment to bring everything they had to support the team,” he said. “We got a lot of talented players.”
Two players who impressed him were Danby, who had an excellent two games and was key in shutting down the other teams’ top players, and Trenton Henson, the goaltender. Chetner said Henson doesn’t get tested a lot.
“He played well. He held off a couple of early pushes by the opposition,” the coach said. “Allowed us to take control of the games.”
With the provincial championship not until February in Langley, the Heat will play in two tournaments. They will also practice in the Adidas Sportsplex and schedule exhibition games closer to provincials.
Heat U11 have strong finish to season
The Heat U11 team played for its first IFLL championship in their playoff debut and lost to Kamloops Rattlers10-3. Coach Chris Danby said his group was a bit flat.
“Our fourth quarter was our strongest,” said Danby, adding they outscored the Rattlers 2-0. “We didn’t have an answer for them.”
The Heat advanced to the championship after defeating the Shuswap Outlaws 10-5. Scoring for the Heat were Cylas Charlton with four, Chay Gettens with a hat-trick, Liam Danby with two and Ben Coombes with one. Branson Crawford played net both games.
“It was a very positive year for us. We improved as a team,” said Chris, adding they finished with a 7-5 record including playoffs. “The kids felt good about that too.”
U13s go deep in playoffs
The Heat U13 team lost the championship 20-0 to the Rattlers. The Heat, who went 4-8-0 in league play, defeated the Kodiaks 8-7 in overtime to advance to the league championship. Scoring for the Heat were Rhys MacDonald, Jacob Stewart and Keegan Allen with two and Caz Markus-Pawliuk and Nolan Kenoras with one goal each.