Dear Editor:
I was fortunate to watch four games at the Bantam Rep minor hockey tournament held this past weekend at the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos.
The South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association (SOMHA) Bantam Reps made it into the ‘A’ final and what a game it turned out to be.
It was actually the best hockey game I’ve seen all year, bar none.
The local squad – made up of players from Osoyoos, Oliver, Okanagan Falls, Princeton and other towns in the South Okanagan – came up against the much larger Spokane team who came to play and had successfully entered the final undefeated.
The South Okanagan squad was soundly defeated by Spokane in the round-robin portion of the tournament leading up to the ‘A’ final, but the local squad was more than ready for them in the return matchup in the championship game.
It was a great game.
Spokane was sound in every position, but not stellar, while the South Okanagan bantams also played terrific hockey.
Their coaches are Brock Anderson, Thierry Martine and Brandon Watson – all three who are former players with the Osoyoos Coyotes organization.
The players on this bantam team were patient, persistent and well prepared. They were tough, too.
Some of those kids are none too big physically, but not afraid and they kept coming.
They took a lot of hits and dished a few out themselves.
Games aren’t all won on the scoreboard.
Long before any goals go in, it’s the war along the boards and in the corners that makes a huge difference and the South Okanagan players kept coming and bouncing up.
I was so proud of them and I hardly know any of those kids.
There was just no quit in them.
Congratulations to the SOMHA bantam team after winning the final over Spokane and claiming the championship trophy.
Well done boys and thanks for some great hockey. I loved it.
More hockey fans should check out the great minor hockey being played at these tournaments in town.
Margaret-Anne Turner
Osoyoos, B.C.
