Oceanside Minor Hockey hosted its first of three year-end tournaments on tap this month on the weekend, and the spirit of the game was front and centre.
The 12-team Peewee tournament, for players aged 11 and 12, featured four local squads. Each team was guaranteed four games, with the playoffs slated for Monday afternoon.
Oceanside’s Red Thunder captured lightening in a bottle, posting a 4-3 win over the Saanich Braves on Saturday morning in their tournament opener, and blanking the Nanaimo Express 4-0 in the afternoon game.
The Red Thunder came up short against a tough Valley team Sunday morning, and were due to play Monday morning with the winner advancing to the bronze medal game — score from that game unavailable at press time.
The Red Thunder recently finished second in the nine-team Mid-Island league’s regular season standings, and fourth overall int he 18-team Island league.
Also in action and giving it their all when The News stopped by Saturday were the Oceanside Blades. The Blades won their opener 8-3 over the Gold River Hawks then lost a hard-fought 4-1 final to the Braves that afternoon.
“The kids are playing well,” Blades’ coach Mike Tisdelles said Sunday night. “They’re having fun, and the tournament is going great.”
GAME ON
OMHA’s Atom Tournament (10-11s) starts Tuesday and the Novice/Initiation/Novice tournament starts Friday.