The ‘98 Kootenay Avalanche team closed out the spring hockey season on a high note.
The team — made up of players from around the West Kootenay and Spokane — took part in the Kelowna Heat Blast Tournament in early May, battling much larger organizations. Despite losing in a thrilling final game shootout, the Avalanche were pleased to skate away with a silver medal.
After posting a 1-2-1 record in the round robin, the Avalanche managed to get into the semi-final where they were matched against a strong Prince George team.
The regional team scored a 4-1 victory to set up a date with Kamloops who had notched a 3-2 win earlier in the weekend.
Tied 3-3 after regulation, the five minute four-on-four overtime solved nothing. The game then shifted to three-on-three where the score remained the same. The game was eventually solved in a shootout where Kamloops eventually won on the fourth shot.
Despite the loss in the final, the silver medal was the Avalanche’s best performance of the spring.
Three players who were members of the Avalanche team — Merissa Dawson, Matthew Brind’Amour and Everett Hicks — played on this season’s Nelson pee wee rep squad.