A talented contingent of West Kootenay players helped the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers to the Female U18 AAA B.C. championship in Langley last week.
Rossland’s Mignon Helberg, Melanie Brooks from Montrose, and Fruitvale products Felicia Girardo and Emma Kohl proved key components in the Lakers best-of-3 series win over the top seed and two-time defending champion Fraser Valley Rush.
The Lakers U18 AAA team is based out of Vernon, and had one of its best seasons with a 22-8-1-1 record, a .719 winning percentage, and finished just two points back of first place Fraser Valley in the five team league.
Fruitvale’s Kohl was the team’s second top scorer, tallying 18 goals and 28 points in 32 games, while defender Brooks contributed 5 goals and 16 points, and Girardo and Helberg each had 10 points on the season.
In the semifinal series March 15-16, Thompson-Okanagan swept the Greater Vancouver Comets winning 3-2 with Kohl scoring once in the opening match and twice in Game 2, a 4-1 series win for the Lakers.
In Game 1 of the final Friday night (March 22), Fraser Valley jumped out to a 1-0 series lead, scoring with 3:42 left in the third period to give the Rush a 3-2 victory.
In Game 2, the Lakers bounced back with a 1-0 victory, backed by a shutout from goaltender Reese Sliskovic.
It all came down to the series-deciding Game 3 on Sunday, March 24.
Lily Roberts’ first period goal put the Lakers up 1-0 at 6:15. Emma Deleurme then converted a setup from Holly Magnus and Kohl to give the Lakers’ a 2-0 lead at 14:43 of the middle frame.
The Rush made it close, scoring with 12:59 to play in the second, but Lakers goalie Sliskovic shut the door the rest of the way for a 2-1 series win and the Female U18 B.C. Championship.
The Thompson-Okanagan team now has time to rest and recharge ahead of the 2024 Esso Cup national championship, which will be held in Vernon.
As hosts, the Lakers will welcome the top Female U18 AAA programs from across the country to Kal Tire Place, April 21-27.
Thompson-Okanagan will play its first game against the Atlantic champion (TBD) on April 21 at 7 p.m.