An annual post-Christmas tradition continued this year as the Cariboo Canucks hockey club hosted its First Nations hockey tournament in Williams Lake.
Four divisions consisting of 16 teams — competitive, masters, recreation and women’s — made up the tournament, held late December.
In the competitive final it was last year’s runner-up, the Alkali Braves, returning the favour on last year’s champion, the host Cariboo Canucks, winning 4-1.
“It was kind of a back and forth game,” said Cecil Grinder, organizer of the tournament.
Matt Brenner held down the fort for the Braves in the win to take best goalie in the division.
In the masters division (40-plus), the host Williams Lake Longhorns edged Butch’s Bandits, 4-3, in a shootout with Darrel Sellars potting the winning goal for the Longhorns.
The recreational division final saw Stone GexNat’i defeat the Williams Lake Cyroties, 7-2.
Grinder said Stone goaltender Tanner Nickel was phenomenal throughout the tournament, winning best goalie.
And in the women’s final it was the host Cariboo Stars beating the Merritt Prowlers, 3-2. Bailey Schick won best goalie for the Stars.
“She got peppered,” Grinder said.
“She was huge in there and had fun.”