The U18 Female South Zone Knights have been crowned champions of the Penticton-based Christmas Classic last weekend, downing teams from the Lower Mainland and northeastern B.C.
The team, made up of hockey players hailing from West Kelowna to Osoyoos and as far west as Princeton were crowned champions on home ice during the recent tournament.
Craig Wittenberg, team manager, says the Okanagan and Similkameen-based squad needed late heroics from Aivry Thomas, who scored the eventual game-winning goal at 7:34 of the third period in the finals against North Shore. Goaltender Shaila McCurdy was credited with the tournament-clinching shutout after the team’s 2-0 victory.
The team won the tournament’s final game after finishing as a No. 2 seed in the round-robin round.
Games were hosted by the Penticton Minor Hockey Association.
Before Wittenberg’s team booked its trip to the finals, Makayla Kenney scored the game-winning goal in the second-to-last game via the one-timer after a pass from Lauren Rogall.
“Amazing tournament, great competition,” commented Wittenberg.
The team draws players from all over the region and welcomes other squads from across the province for their annual home tournament, set in Penticton.
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