Gage Leclaire netted the winner for the Penticton Vikings peewee rec hockey team as they clinched a Salmon Arm tournament Jan. 16-18.
Richter Heintz set up Leclaire for the championship tally against the Kelowna Spartans in a 3-2 final. It was a close match between the third seeded Vikings and top seeded Spartans. Also scoring for the Vikings were Kaiden Skode and David Robertson. Douglas Korsmo was named the most valuable player, while Meadow Arcand-Squakin was given the Heart and Hustle Award.
The Vikings advanced to the championship after they defeated the second-place Vernon Rebels in the semifinal, 3-1. Connor Stephens, Heintz and Robertson scored with MVP honours going to Marlo Spence and the Heart and Hustle award to Luke MacIntyre.
The Vikings opened with a 10-0 blowout of the Winfield Bruins. Trent Ashby and Spence, who stood on their heads the entire tournament in net allowing 11 goals, shared the shutout. Leclair and MacIntyre each scored twice, while Krystopher Roy, Heintz, Korsmo, Sam Burghhardt, Jade Musgrave and Arcand-Squakin, who sniped her first career goal, provided the offence. On Saturday morning, the Vikings lost to the Salmon Arm Hornets 5-4. Ky Cutler, MacIntyre, Robertson and Connor Stephens scored. In the afternoon, the Vikings bounced back to double up the Kelowna Stars 6-3. Leclaire scored twice, while Korsmo, Cutler, Robertson and Heintz added singles.
Apple Cup victory sweet
The Penticton bantam BPO Elks enjoyed a sweet victory as they captured the Wenatchee Apple Cup on Jan. 19. The Elks went undefeated through round robin and won 2-1 against the Kent Valley Tornadoes. Ross Millar scored the winner, while Kieran Mielke netted the Elks first goal.