Off the ice, Oceanside Minor Hockey proved hospitable hosts in this week’s Bantam Winter Classic tournament at Oceanside Place.
On the ice, the locals were a bit less welcoming.
The three Oceanside entries in the 10-team tournament, which continues through this evening at Howie Meeker Arena, all opened with a pair of wins in pool play Tuesday and carried unbeaten records into Wednesday’s action.
The Oceanside Hurricanes stormed past Saanich 6-2 behind two goals and two assists from Matthew Green in their first game, then closed out opening day with another 6-2 victory, over Campbell River.
In the same pool, the Oceanside Steelers romped to a 10-2 win over Campbell River, then returned for a 6-3 victory over North Delta.
Ethan Raduy was the big gun each time for the Steelers, pouring in eight goals in the first win and adding five scores against North Delta. His short-handed score early in the second period snapped a 1-1 tie and the Steelers never trailed again.
The Oceanside Steelers' Trevor Nicoll, right, sweeps a pass out of the corner ahead of North Delta's Armaan Sternberg during their round-robin game in the Oceanside Bantam Winter Classic hockey tournament Tuesday at Oceanside Place in Parksville. — Image credit: J.R. Rardon/PQB NEWS
In Pool B, the Oceanside Blues were just as solid, topping Victoria 5-2 behind a Nolan Lewis hat trick, then wrapping up the day with a 7-2 victory over Juan de Fuca.
Cowichan Valley, also playing in Pool B, was the only other undefeated team through the first day’s action.
The tournament continues at Oceanside Place Thursday, with the final pool games beginning at 8 a.m.
The bronze-medal final will be played at 3:15 p.m. and the gold-medal contest follows at 5:30 p.m.
The tournament is a key fundraiser for Oceanside Minor Hockey, and features a raffle prize table with donations from local businesses and other supporters. The event is open to the public at no cost.
Rep midgets fall in semis
The Oceanside Midget Generals travelled to Comox last week for a holiday tournament and finished 2-2 following a 6-4 loss to Cowichan Valley in the semifinals.
The midgets opened play with an upset loss to Juan de Fuca on Dec. 19, then bounced back with big wins the following day against host Comox and against the TriPort Eagles of North Vancouver Island.
— NEWS Staff