It’s been an exciting month for Williams Lake Recreational Hockey League teams who, since the beginning of March, have been battling it out in playoff matchups for supremacy.
The teams, split up into an ‘A’ division and a ‘B’ division, played a bracket-style tournament for playoffs in each division to determine a winner.
On the ‘B’ side players and spectators were treated to one of the most exciting games of the season March 12, as Pioneer overcame Buffalo Creek, 2-1, to win the championship.
In the ‘A’ final it was Grey Fox downing the Canucks, 6-3, to claim the title. Grey Fox’s win was the first time they’d beaten the Canucks all year, adding to the significance of the win.
Grey Fox player Steve O’Hara said it was a competitive final that could have gone either way.
“It was a hard, tough-fought game with many penalties, a few five on threes and lots of power plays,” O’Hara said. “This really tested each club’s special teams.”
He added the penalties were the result of solid refereeing, which kept the game in check.
“The goaltending was great for each side, and there was a great atmosphere in the building with lots of fans cheering,” he said. “It was a fast-paced game from start to finish.”
Coming into the game Grey Fox were ranked second through the regular season, while the Canucks had snatched up first place with a 13-4-3 record.
In the ‘A’ division bronze-medal match it was Stone downing Duff’s, 7-0, to win.
The ‘B’ division bronze-medal game saw Sight & Sound edge the Firemen, 5-3.
All games were played at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.