Charlie McClelland

BC Games News Service Reporter

The host team lost their opening game in girls’ hockey action at the 2012 BC Winter Games in Vernon Friday. Zone 4 Fraser River Delta defeated Zone 2 Thompson Okanagan 5-2 at Wesbild Centre.  It was an exciting game with end-to-end action for a full 60 minutes in opening day action.

There was a noticeable difference in size, with the Thompson Okanagan players being generally bigger than their opponents.  “What we lack in size, we make up with courage and spirit,” commented Zone 4 coach Melanie Jue.

The game was tied at one each after 20 minutes, with Fraser River Delta failing to score with a two-man advantage in the dying minutes of the period. Thompson Okanagan also failed capitalize on a two-man advantage at the beginning of the second period.

Fraser River Delta came out on the winning end of a few scrambles in the offensive end resulting in two goals to end the second period with a lead of three to one.  Cassie Laturnus of Kelowna scored at 15:10 of the third for Thompson Okanagan to make it a one goal game. At 10:39, Emily Chau of Richmond answered back with her second of the game for Fraser River Delta, restoring a two goal lead. An empty net goal in the dying stages of the game resulted in a final score of 5-2, Fraser River Delta over Thompson Okanagan.